I refer to the letter headlined, 'Travellers need passport chop', by Sheik Mubarak (South China Morning Post, May 16).
I am a permanent resident of Hong Kong who travels frequently. I prefer the Immigration Department's current policy of putting no chop on my passport.
If I got a chop in my passport every time I left or entered Hong Kong, the visa pages of my passport would be used up quickly.
The procedure for obtaining a new Sri Lankan passport is very complicated, as there is no Sri Lankan High Commission in Hong Kong.
It could involve having to make a special trip to Sri Lanka, which would be very inconvenient for me.
I do not believe that immigration officials in other countries want to see departure chops on a passport. The declaration on arrival, together with the airline boarding pass, are sufficient for them to know where the passenger has come from.
