The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 16) welcomed the Central Government's announcement of the Regulations for Application of Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents, and expressed deep gratitude for its continuous effort in introducing measures in the past year to assist Hong Kong residents studying, working, starting business and living on the Mainland.
"I am very pleased to learn that the Regulations will be formally implemented on September 1 this year. According to the Regulations, Hong Kong residents living on the Mainland who meet the relevant criteria can apply for residence permits. A residence permit holder is entitled to enjoy, in accordance with the law, three categories of rights, six basic public services and nine facilitation measures in the place where he or she is residing, covering areas relating to daily living including employment, education, medical care, travel, financial services and so on," Mrs Lam said.
"The Central Government has responded to the needs of Hong Kong people in introducing the Regulations. The Regulations will provide convenience for Hong Kong residents who are studying, working and living on the Mainland on a long-term basis, and provide them with more opportunities to participate in the country's development, including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. It fully reflects President Xi Jinping's people-centred development approach, as well as the Central Government's care and concern for the people of Hong Kong."
In his important address at the Meeting Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland and the Inaugural Ceremony of the Fifth-Term Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, President Xi said the relevant Central Government departments would actively consider adopting concrete measures to make it more convenient for the people of Hong Kong to study, work and live on the Mainland, and provide more opportunities for them to pursue career development in the country. This would enable the people of Hong Kong to enjoy brighter development prospects and live better lives while contributing to China's overall development.
The relevant Central Government departments have subsequently introduced a series of concrete measures to assist Hong Kong residents studying, working and living on the Mainland, including installing ticket machines which can read Home Visit Permits in railway stations, allowing Hong Kong and Macao residents working on the Mainland to join the Housing Provident Fund and removing the requirement for Hong Kong and Macao residents working on the Mainland to apply for employment permits.
Follow this news feed: East Asia