Some non-Chinese permanent residents in Hong Kong and Macao on Wednesday received card-style travel permits for multiple entries into the Chinese mainland under a new border entry policy, making themselves the first batch of foreign passport-holders in China's special administrative regions to enjoy streamlined entry into the mainland of China.
On July 1, China's National Immigration Administration announced the policy of allowing non-Chinese permanent residents in Hong Kong and Macao to apply for the five-year multi-entry permits, which enables expedited border crossing. Under the policy, permit holders can travel to the Chinese mainland multiple times within the five-year validity period of the permit, with each stay not exceeding 90 days.
The first batch of applicants received their permits on Wednesday, marking a significant step in facilitating cross-border movement and integration between the Chinese mainland and each of Hong Kong and Macao.
In Hong Kong, applicants flocked to the entry permit service center of China Travel Service Hong Kong Limited to collect their permits after 21 days of processing of their application documentations. The new policy signifies a new chapter in the practice of "One Country, Two Systems" in the field of immigration.
"This policy has received widespread high comments from all sectors in Hong Kong. The response has been enthusiastic, and applications have been pouring in. So far, we have received over 20,000 appointment applications. The first batch of applicants have already successfully obtained their permits, and other eligible applicants will receive their permits on schedule," said Lan Haitao, general manager of the certificate business department at the China Travel Service Hong Kong Limited.
Travel permit applicants said the policy will further facilitate the free and convenient flow of people, technology, capital, and information between the Chinese mainland and the two special administrative regions.
The new policy will also support more in-depth integration and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city cluster in south China, and help Hong Kong and Macao to better integrate into the overall national development.
"For businesspeople like us, this permit is extremely beneficial because it primarily saves us a lot of time," said Au Yeuk-ling, a Malaysian national and permanent resident of Hong Kong.
On the same morning, the first batch of applicants in Macao also received their newly issued travel cards at the service center operated by the China Travel Service Macao Limited.
Permit holders are exempt from filling out foreigner entry cards and can use the expedited channels for clearance after completing fingerprint collection procedures at the border crossing.
Upon receiving their permits, several foreign permanent residents of Macao completed fingerprint collection and other procedures at the Gongbei Port and experienced the expedited border crossing for the first time.
"This will definitely benefit in terms of foreigners coming to the mainland. You don't have to think too much about planning. You can go when there's an opportunity, like you have a day off, you have a friend asking for going to a dinner. And then, business meetings also pop up here and there," said Thomas, a Danish national and permanent resident of Macao.
In the 20 days since the policy's entry into effect, more than 1,600 people have made appointment applications in Macao.
Foreign permanent residents of Hong Kong, Macao receive five-year travel permits
