THE visa section of the US Consulate in Hong Kong will again close as a result of the budgetary stalemate. As of today, and until further notice, prospective visa applicants are requested to wait.

Only US citizens and 'emergency' cases - those in which there is 'a threat to the life or health' of the applicant or an immediate family member - will be processed, a spokesman said. A similar closure, which began on November 15, lasted four working days.