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Starting from tomorrow (March 1), the Mainland authorities will accept a new round of applications for One Way Permits (OWPs) from Hong Kong residents' Mainland "overage children" whose natural fathers or mothers obtained their first Hong Kong identity cards on or before December 31, 1981, to come to Hong Kong for reunion with their natural parents, a spokesperson for the Security Bureau said today (February 28).
The Ministry of Public Security made the above announcement in mid December 2012 and has announced the details of the application procedure, including the required supporting documents. Eligible overage children may submit applications to the Exit and Entry Administration Offices of the Public Security Bureau of their household registration according to the announced schedule.
According to the Mainland authorities, the application and approval arrangements for overage children to reside in Hong Kong has been implemented in a smooth manner in the Mainland since April 1, 2011. Successful applicants are gradually given approval to join their natural parents in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities on the application progress and entry arrangement of overage children. According to the Mainland authorities, they will, depending on progress, accept applications from other eligible overage children in phases so that they can join their natural parents in Hong Kong as early as possible.
In response to the request of Hong Kong residents and their Mainland overage children for reunion in Hong Kong, the Central Government decided that, starting from April 1, 2011, individuals may apply for OWPs to come to Hong Kong if they were below the age of 14 when their natural fathers or mothers, on or before November 1, 2001, obtained their first Hong Kong identity cards, as long as their natural fathers or mothers still resided in Hong Kong on April 1, 2011.
The phased submission of applications by overage children to the Mainland authorities will be scheduled chronologically according to the order in which their natural fathers or mothers obtained their first Hong Kong identity cards. The Mainland authorities are currently accepting applications from Mainland residents whose natural fathers or mothers obtained their first Hong Kong identity cards before 1981. There is no deadline for the submission of applications.
Ends/Thursday, February 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:50
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