Restrictions on Chinese business visitors were eased Saturday, with the duration of stay extended to one month from previous 14 days. Ho Jung-chun, deputy director-general of the National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior, said the relaxation was part of amended regulations governing visits by Chinese business executives and professionals promulgated by the ministry the day before. From now on, Ho said, Chinese businessmen can stay in Taiwan for up to one month on each visit for business purposes. According to Ho, Chinese citizens made about 80,000 business visits to Taiwan in 2008. Previous regulations stipulated that local companies with an annual business turnover of less than NT$30 million (US$917,431) were eligible to host a maximum of 15 Chinese business visitors annually. Under the new regulations, the number increases to 45. The number of Chinese business visitors that local businesses with annual business turnover of NT$30 million or over can host each year has also been raised to 200 from original 50. 