Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents

Not to be confused with Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Residents.

Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents 港澳居民来往内地通行证
The front of the current permit (since 2019)
The reverse of the current permit (since 2013)
Type	Travel document and Identity document
Issued by	China
Purpose	Identification and travel document to travel to the mainland China from Hong Kong, Macau or overseas
Eligibility	Chinese citizens who are permanent resident in Hong Kong or Macau, or One-way Permit holders settled in Hong Kong or Macau
Cost	HK$390 [1]

Previous version of Home Return Permit, issued from 1999 to 2012 (for adults).

Previous version of Home Return Permit, issued from 1999 to 2012 (for children under 18).

From left to right: HKSAR passport, Home Return Permit (cancelled), and the 1999 version of the certificate

Back of the previous version, the lack of English descriptions can cause difficulties when travelling by air outside the Greater China Region.

Before the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macau, "home-return permits" were issued to any ethnic Chinese person in those territories.

Prior to 1999, those permits were named Home-visiting Certificate for Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau and was a passport-like booklet. These booklets were considered inconvenient, because they were relatively cumbersome to carry around. Furthermore, the booklets were also found to be inefficient because they could only be used at staffed border crossing checkpoints where an entry stamp would be placed by an immigration official. Frequent border crossing residents, such as lorry drivers, were required to replace the booklet every few months due to the lack of pages for entry and exit stamps. The booklets were eventually phased out.

In 1999, the permit was changed into its current credit-card-like form and the official name has also changed to its current name, following the handover of sovereignty of both territories. A new version came to circulation in 2013 with enhanced security features and an embedded biometric chip.

Appearance

The current and older permits are credit card-sized which makes it more efficient to carry in one's wallet. The older permit is also machine readable, which facilitates entry into mainland China at any staffed immigration checkpoint or through self-service immigration gates (currently available at Hong Kong-Shenzhen, Macau-Zhuhai crossings, Beijing West Railway Station, and international airports throughout mainland China). These gates scan the permits with an optical reader and use the software to verify one's biometric information, such as thumb prints and facial scans, with the database. After the inspection is completed, the person is released. ^[7]

Starting from 2 January 2013, the current version of the permit came to circulation. The design of newer permits has been changed. A biometric chip, like the one used on biometric passports, was added to the permit. The numbering scheme of the permit has been revamped: the previous 11-digit permit number has been separated to a 9-digit permit number and a 2-digit issuing sequence number. The permits now also have an English description which reads "This card is intended for its holder to travel to the mainland of China", and it was added because holders of the older version may have difficulties to board flights outside the Greater China Region as no English description was given on the older permit. The Simplified Chinese name of holder on his or her Hong Kong or Macau Identity Card appears on the front of the permit, whereas the original Traditional Chinese name of holder appears on the back of the permit. The issuing authority of this permit have been changed from Public Security Bureau of Guangdong to the Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security .

Validity

Most permits for adults are valid for 10 years; minors under 18 years old are issued permits valid for five years. Temporary permits are given for certain reasons, such as when a person's permit has expired and the replacement has not arrived. There have been instances of limited single and double entry home visit permits issued due to political reasons.

Requirements when staying in Mainland China

Holders of the Home Return Permit are able to freely enter Mainland China for all purposes within the validity of their travel document, regardless whether the point of origin is Hong Kong, Macau, or overseas. ^[8] However, they must register with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours — or within 72 hours in the countryside — if they are staying overnight in a friend or relative's home. ^[9]

Those residing in the Mainland for more than six months may apply for the Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Residents.

Applying for a Home Return Permit

The China Travel Service (CTS) is the sole authorized agency by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) to provide services to help accept applications in Hong Kong and Macau. However, the PSB of Guangdong processes all applications and issues the permit on behalf of the Ministry of Public Security.

Holders who have lost their Home Return Permit in Mainland can apply for a temporary replacement at the CTS branch in Huanggang. They will, however, need to apply for a new Home Return Permit on return to Hong Kong or Macau with the CTS.

Hong Kong and Macau Chinese Nationals in foreign countries, who do not already have a Home Return Permit, can apply to their local Chinese foreign mission for a passport-like Chinese Travel Document to visit mainland China. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

Nationality of holders

A home return permit constitutes proof of Chinese nationality in Mainland China. Its status in Hong Kong law is less clear, due to the principle of one country, two systems and the designation of the Hong Kong Immigration Department as the competent authority to determine matters under the Chinese Nationality Law relating to Hong Kong permanent residents. As Vice-president of the Court of Appeal Wally Yeung wrote: ^[3]

Mr. Pun has also emphasized that the fact that Yiu Hon holds a Home Visit Permit shows that the Chinese Government recognizes Yiu Hon has the status as a Chinese national. I do not understand the principle on which the Chinese Government issued Yiu Hon a Home Visit Permit. However, under the principle of one country, two systems, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will not be subject to the decision of the Chinese Government on the above question. The Court shall decide whether or not Yiu Hon is still a 'Chinese national' in accordance with the Chinese Nationality Law and related provisions. The fact that Yiu Hon holds a Home Visit Permit has no direct bearing or significance on the matter in question.

Furthermore, not all Chinese nationals in Hong Kong or Macau have a Home Return Permit. Unlike the compulsory Hong Kong Identity Card or Macau Resident Identity Card, application for a Home Return Permit is voluntary. Those who do not apply for the Permit are still eligible for an HKSAR passport issued by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong, or an MSAR passport by the Identification Services Bureau of Macau. The SAR passports are only issued to Chinese nationals with the right of abode in Hong Kong or Macau. The HKSAR passport or MSAR passport allows the holder to travel to other countries and regions, but it may not be used for travelling to Macau/Hong Kong(except transit). The HKSAR passport or MSAR passport is also used as a travel document for travel to Taiwan in conjunction with the Exit and Entry Permit issued by the government of Republic of China. Chinese nationals holding an HKSAR passport cannot use it to enter mainland China, and the HKSAR Government has stated that "in line with the one country principle, it was considered inappropriate to adopt HKSAR passport as a travel document to enter the Mainland." ^[13]

Likewise, the Home Return Permit cannot be used to enter Hong Kong or Macau, and residents are required to use their Hong Kong Identity Card or a Macau Resident Identity Card.

Issues faced by British passport holders

Many, but not all, residents of Hong Kong are dual Chinese nationals and British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)s). The PRC Government does not recognise BN(O) passports issued to Hong Kong residents of Chinese descent. They cannot use their BN(O) passports to enter mainland China before or after the handover.

If a person in Hong Kong is a British citizen but not a Chinese national, they can only enter the mainland with a British passport affixed with a Chinese visa, although they may be eligible for brief group tourist trips to the Pearl River Delta and Hainan Province, or visits to mainland cities while in transit to and from other countries or regions (including Hong Kong). ^[14]

Issues faced by other foreign passport holders

Besides BN(O) status, British citizenship and Chinese nationality, many residents of Hong Kong have obtained citizenship in countries such as Australia, Canada, or the United States. Officially speaking, if they have not made a "declaration of change of nationality" at the Immigration Department of Hong Kong, they are regarded by the Chinese authorities as Chinese nationals. In this case, they can use their Home Return Permits to enter mainland China instead of their foreign passports. Under the master nationality rule, persons entering mainland China with a Home Return Permit are Chinese nationals and are accordingly not entitled to foreign consular protection.

Incidents

Ching Cheong

In 2005, Ching Cheong, a Hong Kong-based journalist of the Singapore-based newspaper The Straits Times , was arrested by the Chinese Ministry of State Security and was accused of stealing "state secrets". The correspondent entered Mainland with his Home Return Permit while holding a BN(O) passport. Since he is both a Chinese national, a British National (Overseas), as well as a permanent resident of Singapore, organisations like the Hong Kong Journalists' Association and Reporters Without Borders, urged the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to intervene. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it had no plans to comment on the case. British officials have indicated that if there were any representations to be made, they would take place behind the scenes. A London spokesperson confirmed: "We can offer consular assistance but we cannot interfere in the legal affairs of another country." The Chinese Central People's Government never recognized any British National (Overseas) status, and stated that its nationals from Hong Kong cannot enjoy foreign consular protection on Chinese soil on the basis of holding foreign passports. The Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom stated that "Mr Ching is a British National (Overseas) passport holder and we have pressed the central authorities for information on the circumstances of his arrest and will continue to seek consular access as a matter of urgency, which so far has been denied." There were other cases that the British Government was asked to assist BN(O) passport holders detained in mainland China. ^{[15] [16]}

Pro-democracy politicians

Before the handover, some pro-democracy Hong Kong politicians, such as Margaret Ng, ^[17] Emily Lau ^{[18] [19]} and Christine Loh ^[20] attempted to use their British citizen passports to enter mainland China because they were denied a Home Return Permit, hence denied from entering mainland China. Those politicians, however, are still Chinese nationals under the Chinese nationality law; acquisition of Chinese nationality of ethnic Chinese residents born in Hong Kong is involuntary, although they may choose to relinquish their Chinese nationality if they hold citizenship of other countries, except for the British National (Overseas) status and the British citizenship obtained in the British Nationality Selection Scheme.

Albert Ho, who had his Home Return Permit cancelled by the Central government, ran for Chief Executive in 2012. ^[21] During the election campaign, Henry Tang pledged that if he became the next Chief Executive, he would talk to Beijing to secure a new permit for Ho. ^[22] Leung Chun-ying gave a more generic response that did not answer to Ho specifically, and said if he became the next Chief Executive, he welcomes anyone to seek his help. ^[22]

Umbrella movement

Three members of the Hong Kong Federation of Students led by Alex Chow, who had booked air tickets to Beijing to put their case in front of the national leadership during the 2014 Hong Kong protests, found out through airline agents that Chinese authorities had revoked their Home Return Permit, effectively banning them from travelling to Mainland. No official notification of the revocation or explanation of the grounds for their cancellation were ever made to the holders. ^[23]

Lee Bo

In 2016, issues regarding the disappearances of Lee Bo, the owner of Causeway Bay Books, were raised by British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond as Lee is a British citizen with a Home Return Permit who was later confirmed to be kidnapped from Hong Kong by Chinese law enforcement officials. Hammond demanded the Chinese government to launch a thorough investigation regarding the breach of independent jurisdiction rights enjoyed by Hong Kong. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded by saying that China would refuse to do so because Lee is, "first and foremost, a Chinese citizen (national)" under the Chinese nationality law and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, therefore the British government would have no say on internal affairs of China. This case came under international attention because, unlike Ching Cheong, Lee was neither arrested or had any charges against him in mainland China, and his British citizen status, unlike Ching's BN(O), was recognized by the Chinese government. ^[24]

See also

• Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents
• People's Republic of China Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau
• Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Residents
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport
• Macao Special Administrative Region passport
• Exit & Entry Permit
• British nationality law and Hong Kong
• Portuguese nationality law
• Chinese nationality law
• Foreign relations of Hong Kong
• Foreign relations of Macau

External links

• Declaration of change of Nationality, Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR
• Entering and Leaving the Mainland, Labour Department, Hong Kong SAR ('Re-entry permit' here is the home visit permit)
• Explanations of some questions by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress concerning the implementation of the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
• Home return permit application, China Travel Service, Hong Kong (in Chinese)
• Minutes of meeting, Panel of Security, Legislative Council, Hong Kong (31 March 1999)
• Six-Monthly Report to Parliament on Hong Kong (January-June 2005), presented to Parliament by the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom
• Straw urged to rescue reporter held by Chinese for 'secrets' theft, The Telegraph
• Visas for China, travel advice, British Consulate General Hong Kong
• 還我回鄉權 廢除回鄉證
• 广东省公安厅出入境管理处-港、澳、台居民来往内地管理
• 大眾遊箱﹕回鄉證毋須半年有效期 往返內地

Bibliography

• Book in Chinese: 張勇、陳玉田：《香港居民的國籍問題》（出版社：三聯書店（香港））456

References

1. 香港居民申領《中華人民共和國出入境通行證》(臨通) 須知 | 香港中國旅行社
2. "Announcement on Further Adjusting and Optimizing Policies and Measures on Exit and Entry Administration". National Immigration Administration . 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
3. Tse Yiu-hon v. HKSAR Passports Appeal Board, HCAL1240/2000; the applicant was found on appeal to be a Chinese national, but in overturning Yeung's judgment the court did not disturb this point.
4. "GovHK: Immigration Clearance". GovHK. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
5. 香港居民申領《港澳居民來往內地通行證》(回鄉證) 須知
6. 《港澳居民來往內地通行證》辦證須知
7. "细说首都机场边防自助通关". BCIA. November 23, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
8. "六、中国旅行证". Archived from the original on 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
9. 港澳居民赴内地手续办理指南 (Information page from the Central People's Government in Chinese) Retrieved on 2008-10-20.
10. 香港居民旅行证件 Archived 2008-09-19 at the Wayback Machine (Information page from the Chinese Embassy in London in Chinese) Retrieved on 2008-10-20.
11. 澳门居民旅行证件 Archived 2008-09-19 at the Wayback Machine (Information page from the Chinese Embassy in London in Chinese) Retrieved on 2008-10-20.
12. "护照与旅行证须知". Archived from the original on 2008-10-06. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
13. HK Gov. " Legco." LegCo Panel on Security. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
14. Embassy of the People's Republic of China. "A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visas".
15. HKhrc. " HKhrc." Local Human Rights Issues. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
16. FmcoprcHKhrc. " Fmcoprc." Office of the Commissioner of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
17. HK Human Rights Monitor. " HKhrm." Rule of Law Protector should not be left unprotected. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
18. BBC News. " BBC." Pro-democracy politician in Hong Kong gives up British citizenship. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
19. HK Human Rights Monitor. " HKhrm." Report on 1998 Legislative Council Election. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
20. Asiaweek. " Asiaweek." Newly Found Patriotism. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
21. "真假莫辨：民主黨禁黨員做局長". Wenweipo. 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
22. "唐英年何俊仁夾擊寸爆梁振英". Hong Kong Daily News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012
23. Ng, Joyce; Nip, Amy; Lau, Stuart (15 November 2014). "Beijing bans student leaders from taking trip to mainland to press for democracy". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
24. Ng, Naomi; Siu, Phila (6 January 2016). "'First and foremost a Chinese citizen': China's foreign minister on missing Hong Kong bookseller who also holds British passport". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 28 February 2016.

Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
Traditional Chinese	港澳居民來往內地通行證
Simplified Chinese	港澳居民来往内地通行证
Cantonese Yale	Góng·Ou gēuimàhn lòihwóhng noihdeih tūnghàhngjing
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Gǎng-Aò Jūmín Láiwǎng Nèidì Tōngxíngzhèng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Góng·Ou gēuimàhn lòihwóhng noihdeih tūnghàhngjing Jyutping Gong2ou3 geoi1man4 loi4wong5 noi6dei6 tung1hang4zing3 IPA [kɔ̌ːŋ.ōukɵ́y.mɐ̏nlɔ̏ːy.wɔ̬ːŋnɔ̀ːy.tèitʰóŋ.hɐ̏ŋ.tsēŋ]

v t e Mainland China-related identity and travel documents
Issued to Mainland residents	Identity documents Resident Identity Card Household Register Passports Chinese passport Travel documents Chinese Travel Document Exit and Entry Permit (to bordering countries) Two-way Permit to Hong Kong and Macau One-way Permit to Hong Kong and Macau
Issued to SAR and Taiwan residents*	Identity documents Mainland Residence Permit Travel documents Home Visit Permit Mainland Travel Permit Chinese Travel Document
See also	Documents issued by Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (Republic of China) *.
* Taiwan is claimed as a province by the People's Republic of China. See cross-Strait relations and political status of Taiwan.