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Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, to a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung on One-way Permits in the Legislative Council today (October 24):
Question:
Regarding the issuance of One-way Permits ("OWPs"), will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of mainland residents who were granted OWPs for entry into Hong Kong in each of the past two years and, apart from family reunion, whether there were other reasons for their being granted OWPs; if there were, of the details; and
(b) whether it will consider reviewing the existing system for the issuance of OWPs (including empowering the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to approve and issue OWPs) with the relevant mainland authorities, so as to provide more channels for the mainland residents in need to apply for settlement in Hong Kong?
Reply:
Madam President,
Our reply to Hon Leung Yiu-chung's question is as follows:
(a) The OWP Scheme, as we understand it, has been devised to facilitate Mainland residents to re-unite with their families in Hong Kong. Among the existing 150 daily OWP quotas, 60 places are allocated to children holding Certificates of Entitlement, 30 for those who have separated with their spouses for ten years or above (i.e. long-separated spouses) as well as their accompanying children, and 60 for other applicants covering those who have separated with their spouses for less than ten years and their accompanying children, unsupported children who need to join their relatives in Hong Kong, persons coming to Hong Kong to take care of their unsupported (i.e. with no other children in Hong Kong) aged parents, and unsupported elderly people coming to join relatives in Hong Kong. In 2005 and 2006, the number of OWP arrivals was 55,106 and 54,170 respectively.
(b) The issue of OWPs is the responsibility of the relevant authorities of the Mainland and falls outside the remit of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG). Since May 1997, the Mainland authorities have started to assess OWP applications in accordance with the "Points System", under which the eligibility of applicants and the order in which they may settle in Hong Kong are assessed and determined according to objective criteria. The Public Security Bureaux of some Mainland provinces also regularly publish information on those who were granted with OWPs such as their names, the reunion types, and the points accorded, on Hong Kong's newspapers.
Although the issue of OWPs is the responsibility of the Mainland authorities, the HKSARG will reflect to them Hong Kong peoples' views on the relevant arrangements. In response to the request of the Right of Abode seekers, the HKSARG has invited the Mainland authorities to consider allowing more Mainland adult children who are in genuine need to apply to come to Hong Kong for settlement and taking care of their parents via the OWP channel. The HKSARG will continue to keep in view the relevant development.
Ends/Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:20
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