********************
Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, to a question by the Hon Wong Yuk-man in the Legislative Council today (February 12):
Question:
Article 22(4) of the Basic Law stipulates that "for entry into the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, people from other parts of China must apply for approval. Among them, the number of persons who enter the Region for the purpose of settlement shall be determined by the competent authorities of the Central People's Government after consulting the government of the Region". In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the annual numbers of "Certificates of Entitlement to the Right of Abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" issued by the authorities between 2003 and 2013, as well as the daily average number of mainland residents who came to Hong Kong for settlement during that period holding Permits for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao affixed with such Certificates; and
(2) whether the Central People's Government (CPG) consulted, in accordance with the aforesaid provision, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in the past five years on the number of persons to be approved to enter HKSAR for the purpose of settlement; if CPG did, when it did so, and of the views given by the HKSAR Government, and among such views, of those accepted and those not accepted by CPG respectively?
Reply:
President,
The reply is as follows:
(1) The annual number of Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (CoEs) issued by the Immigration Department between 2003 and 2013, and the daily average number of Mainland residents who came to Hong Kong holding One-way Permits (OWPs) affixed with CoEs are in Annex.
(2) OWPs are documents issued by relevant authorities in the Mainland. Their application, approval and issuance fall within the remit of the Mainland authorities. The HKSAR Government always attaches great importance to the views of various sectors of the society concerning Mainland residents settling in Hong Kong, and exchanges views with the Mainland authorities on the approval of OWPs. Having considered suggestions from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and various sectors of the society, the Mainland authorities have adjusted and refined the OWP Scheme from time to time. For example, in 2009, the "eligibility points" for OWP applications of separated spouses were relaxed, thereby further shortening their waiting time from five years to four. Also, starting from 2011, the Mainland authorities have allowed eligible Mainland "overage children" of Hong Kong residents to apply for OWP in an orderly manner, utilising residual OWP quota and responding to their request to reunite with their parents in Hong Kong.
We will keep in view the suggestions from various sectors of the society and the interests of the local community. We will continue to exchange views with the Mainland authorities on the overall usage of OWP quota, and reflect to them the aspirations of the society.
Ends/Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:47
NNNN
