The Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao,
colloquially known as the One-way Permit,
is a
travel document
A travel document is an identity document issued by a government or international entity pursuant to international agreements to enable individuals to clear border control measures. Travel documents usually assure other governments that the beare ...
issued by the
Exit and Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China. This passport-size document is issued for its bearers, Chinese citizens residing in the mainland with relatives in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
or
Macau
Macau or Macao is a special administrative regions of China, special administrative region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). With a population of about people and a land area of , it is the most List of countries and dependencies by p ...
, to proceed to the special administrative regions for residency.
History
The British Hong Kong government implemented the
Touch Base Policy, which confer all mainland residents who arrived in Hong Kong the legal Hong Kong resident status. As the number of immigrants increased, the British Hong Kong government decided to change the policy and control immigration.
In 1982, in order to control the border, the British Hong Kong government reached an agreement with the Chinese government, stipulating that mainland residents coming to Hong Kong for residency must hold a one-way permit issued by the Chinese government, with a quota of 75 per day. In 1995, the one-way permit daily quota was raised to 150. This quota cap remains in effect today.
Selected statistics
As of the end of 2016, approximately 950,000 mainland migrants came from the program, representing about 12.8% of Hong Kong's total population.
Controversy
Although the permit is specifically for the purpose of family reunion, not for general immigration, the scheme is controversial. Hong Kong currently has a quota of 150 people per day and the waiting time for spouses is currently 4 years. Journalist
Ching Cheong alleges that the scheme, whose beneficiaries are at the sole discretion of the PRC government and outside of the vetting procedures of the Hong Kong Immigration Department, is an infiltration mechanism for creating a loyal voter bloc in Hong Kong; those that are not filled by cadres become a graft mechanism for officials.
[Hung, Ho-fung]
"Three Views of Local Consciousness in Hong Kong"
. ''The Asia-Pacific Journal'', Vol. 12; Issue 44, No. 1; 3 November 2014. Martin Lee said that the policy is part of the CPC's strategy of long-run "Tibetisation" of Hong Kong, aimed at marginalising Hong Kong people and their core values over time.
[Lee, Martin (29 September 2012)]
"香港西藏化"
. ''Next Magazine''.
See also
* Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau: The permit issued to Mainland Chinese residents visiting Hong Kong and Macau temporary.
*Home Return Permit
The Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (colloquially referred to as the Home Return Permit or Home Visit Permit) is a travel document issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China. This ...
* Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permit
References
{{Macau and Macau-related Identity and Travel Documents
Human rights in China
Immigration to Hong Kong
Hong Kong travel documents