Since August 2017, the relevant Central Government departments have introduced a series of policy measures to facilitate Hong Kong people to pursue development opportunities in the Mainland. The measures, which cover areas including education, employment and daily life matters, enable Hong Kong people to capitalise on the opportunities brought about by the development of the country. The relevant measures include:
Education
- Specifying in clear terms that to protect the rights and interests of Hong Kong and Macao students, Mainland higher education institutions and relevant authorities must accord equal treatment for Hong Kong and Macao students in admission, nurture, management and supporting services.
- Mainland higher education institutions should facilitate Hong Kong and Macao students' job search and employment and issue Employment Agreements and Employment Registration Certificates to them upon their graduation.
- Both the quota and amount of scholarships open to Hong Kong and Macao students as well as overseas Chinese students studying at Mainland higher education institutions have been increased.
Employment
- The requirement for the people of Hong Kong and Macao to apply for employment permits for working in the Mainland has been removed (Removal of the requirement for people from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao working in the Mainland to apply for employment permits announced by the State Council (Chinese Version Only) (3 August 2018)).
- Hong Kong and Macao people working in the Mainland can join the Housing Provident Fund and enjoy the same treatment accorded to Mainland residents. People from Hong Kong/Macao leaving the Mainland to relocate back to Hong Kong/Macao will be allowed to withdraw any remaining balance in their Housing Provident Fund accounts, thereby facilitating them to plan for the longer term and achieve personal goals.
Daily Living
- Hong Kong residents living in the Mainland who meet the relevant criteria can apply for residence permits, and entitle 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 such as employment, education, medical care, travel, financial services, etc. (State Council's notice on Regulations for Application of Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents (Chinese Version Only) (19 August 2018))
- Further facilitating Hong Kong and Macao residents to use the Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entry and Exit Permits (commonly known as the "Home Return Permits") for receiving government and public services and handling personal matters in the Mainland in the areas of transport, finance, communications, education, healthcare, social security, industry and commerce, taxation and accommodation, etc. (Notice on the work plan to facilitate the use of entry and exit permits (Chinese Version Only) (16 May 2019)). On 21 January 2020, the National Immigration Administration announced that a total of 35 facilitation measures covering 3 major areas of government services, public services and use of internet had basically been implemented (National Immigration Administration's press conference on the implementation of facilitation for the use of entry and exit permits (Chinese Version Only) (21 January 2020)).
- Starting from 10 October 2020, Hong Kong and Macao residents can apply for renewal and re-issue of Home Return Permit from the public security authorities above county level in the Mainland, according to the same application procedures as those in Hong Kong and Macao (Announcement by the National Immigration Administration that Hong Kong and Macao residents can apply for renewal and re-issue of Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entry and Exit Permits in the Mainland (Chinese Version Only) (28 September 2020)).
Social Security
- Starting from 1 January 2020, residents of Hong Kong and Macao can, in accordance with the law, participate in the social security schemes of the Mainland, including the basic pension fund, the basic medical insurance, etc. and enjoy the same treatment accorded to Mainland residents (Interim Measures on the Participation in Social Insurance by Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents in the Mainland (Chinese Version Only) (29 November 2019))
For details of the measures announced by the relevant Central Government departments in August and December 2017, please visit the following websites:
For information on the facilitation measures implemented in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, please refer to the following website:
For more information on studying, working and living in the Mainland, please visit the following webpages of the Mainland Offices of the HKSAR Government: