Updated at 4.45pm: Hong Kong on Friday signed an agreement on Abolition of Visa Requirements with Bulgaria, a government spokesman confirmed.
The spokesman said that under the new agreement, HKSAR passport holders could visit Bulgaria for up to 90 days without a visa. Bulgarian nationals would also enjoy 90 days' visa-free access to Hong Kong.
The agreement would come into force in about two months after the two governments completed internal procedures, the spokesman said.
'We warmly welcome the signing of the agreement, which means greater convenience for Hong Kong travellers and helps promote trade, business and tourism links between Hong Kong and Bulgaria,' he said.
The agreement brings the number of countries/territories with visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders to 134.
Bulgaria is in southeastern Europe and borders the Black Sea - between Romania and Turkey. The former communist country, which has a population of around seven million, is anxious to join the European Community. Along with agriculture, its major industries include food processing, machine and metal building, electronics, chemicals, textiles and metals.