Starting from July 10, mainland authorities will begin issuing multiple-entry travel permits to non-Chinese permanent residents in the SARs, the Exit and Entry Administration of China announced on Monday morning.
According to the announcement, non-Chinese holders of permanent Macau and Hong Kong ID Cards can submit their applications to the China Travel Service agencies in the SARs and be issued a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents. The maximum stay for each visit is 90 days.
With this certificate, in the format of a card, non-Chinese permanent residents will also be allowed to use the fast channel at the borders after completing fingerprint collection and other procedures.
The permit is applicable to those traveling to mainland China for short-term purposes such as investment, visiting relatives, tourism, business, seminars, and exchanges. The announcement also noted that holders are not permitted to work, study, or engage in news coverage activities in mainland China with this permit.
The measure announced today coincides with the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It aims to “further promote personnel exchanges between mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as facilitate the smooth development of activities such as trade, investment, cultural tourism, education, and research, and support the better integration of Hong Kong and Macau into the overall national development situation,” mainland authorities stressed, as quoted by CCTV.
The Macau SAR Government issued statement thanking the Central Government for the new policy, emphasising that it provides great encouragement to non-Chinese Macao permanent residents either to invest, visit relatives, travel, do business, or engage in discussions and exchanges on the mainland.
“This further promotes people-to-people exchanges, economic and trade exchanges, and mutually beneficial cooperation between the mainland and Macao. It also contributes positively for the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and accelerates Macau’s integration into the overall development of the country.”