A total of 331 local residents in Pingtan county have applied for the new travel pass to Hong Kong and Macao within 10 days of its issuance, Pingtan Times reported on Sept 25.

The Public Security Ministry released the new version of the travel pass on Sept 15 in a bid to enhance the safety of the permit as well as the efficiency of issuing it.

Compared with the old versions, the new one has a revolutionary improvement where it can digitize personal data and finger print information, which helps with automatic checking and thus accelerates the process of customs clearance.

What’s more, the size of the new travel pass is also diminished to the size of an ID card for convenience in carrying it.

Tourists all speak highly of the new travel passes, as they can go through customs clearance by themselves. And the pass is easier to carry, said Lin Yingfang, member from the Pingtan Entry-Exit management authority.

The application period and fee for the application of the travel pass both stay the same at 9 days and 100 yuan ($16), respectively. A second endorsement will take 6 days and cost 20 yuan.