Immigration authorities extend Chinese mainland residents’ business travel in Hong Kong, Macao to 14 days
A snapshot of Hong Kong Image: VCG
Chinese immigration authorities announced that starting May 6, mainland Chinese residents traveling to Hong Kong and Macau on business trips will be able to stay for up to 14 days per visit, a significant increase from the previous limit of seven days.
The extension, which will greatly facilitate trade exchange between the Chinese mainland and the two regions, is included in a set of new measures to simplify the migration process, facilitate international exchange, and promote the country’s high-level opening-up.
The new measures also include facilitating passport issuance procedures and facilitating travel for mainland Chinese residents to visit Hong Kong and Macau, allowing mainland Chinese residents to apply for work travel permits to Hong Kong and Macau at immigration offices across the country, and not just at registered locations. before.
Experts noted that the new measures will help boost the economies of Hong Kong and Macau, create new job opportunities and inject vitality into their development.
Facilitating travel for mainland residents to Hong Kong and Macau will stimulate economic activity and increase demand in the tourism, retail, hotel and dining sectors, driving economic growth in Hong Kong and Macau, said Liang Haiming, president of the China Silk Road Research Institute iValley, a research institute based in China. Hong Kong to the Global Times on Sunday.
Liang said the initiatives are particularly focused on simplifying the travel of business professionals and talent from the mainland, which is expected to generate more job opportunities in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as enhancing the local talent pool and promoting cross-regional knowledge sharing.
“Skilled workers based in the Chinese mainland may bring new impetus to innovation and development in Hong Kong and Macau,” Liang said.
Liang noted that more businessmen and skilled workers are likely to lead local trade and cultural exchanges with the international community, which is expected to increase foreign investment, promote foreign trade and more.
The new measures will allow multiple entry into Hong Kong and Macau for skilled talent from Beijing and Shanghai, giving them entry and exit permits valid for between one and five years with each stay not exceeding 30 days. The new policies also include issuing multiple entry visas to Macau for various activities such as exhibitions, medical treatment and cultural performances.
In addition, the National Immigration Administration will pilot online applications to replace or reissue passports and exit permits for travel to and from Hong Kong and Macau in 20 mainland cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
With the further integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the launch of new travel policies, interactions between residents of the three regions are becoming increasingly comfortable, leading to closer economic ties.
For example, border control on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge announced that as of 4 pm on Saturday, the bridge had recorded more than 10 million vehicle operations.
