Home Return Permit
Encyclopedia
A ‘Home Return Permit’ , also referred to as a ‘Home Visit Permit’ or ‘China Back Home Pass’ , is the colloquial name for the national identity document
officially known as the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents issued to PRC citizens who are permanent residents of Hong Kong
and Macau
as the entry permit to China
. The permit is issued by the Public Security Bureau
of Guangdong
province through China Travel Service
sub-branches in Hong Kong and Macau and allows holders to travel freely to mainland China.
The word 'home' is used because this permit used to be issued to Chinese migrants living in Hong Kong and Macau for travelling to China which was their homeland. Today, most holders of this permit are people who were born and brought up in Hong Kong and Macau; the permit plays the role of a travel document for visiting China rather than a permit which allows the holder to 'return home'.
and Macau, 'home-return permits' were issued to any ethnic Chinese person in those territories.
Prior to 1999, permits were called Home-Visiting Certificate for Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau and resembled passports. These booklets were considered inconvenient, because they were large and cumbersome to carry around. Furthermore, the booklets were also found to be inefficient because they could only be used at manned checkpoints where a manual stamp could only be made by an immigration official. Thus they are being phased out as residents replace them upon expiration.
In 1999, the permit was changed into its current card and the official name has changed from 'Home-Visiting Certificate for Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau' to the current name.
,Macau-Zhuhai
crossings and Shanghai
Pudong International Airport). These gates read the permit cards with an optical reader and use biometric software to match thumb prints and facial scans with those on record.
for tourism or business purposes (except purposes of employment) within the validity of their travel document, regardless of the point of origin whether it is from Hong Kong/Macau or from overseas. However, they must register with the local police (Public Security Bureau) within 24 hours - or within 72 hours in the countryside - if they are staying overnight for a short trip in a friend or relative's home.
If holders of the Home Return Permit intend to reside in the Mainland on a long term basis, they are required to first obtain permission from the local prefecture/municipality police (Public Security Bureau
), from whom they will obtain a special long-term residence permit if their application is accepted.
(CTS) is the sole authorised agency by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) to provide services to help accept applications in Hong Kong and Macau
. However, it is the Guangdong Province PSB that processes the applications.
Holders who have lost their Home Return Permit in the Mainland can apply for a temporary replacement at the CTS branch in Huanggang
. They will, however, need to apply for a full, new Home Return Permit on return to Hong Kong or Macau with the CTS.
Hong Kong and Macau permanent residents in foreign countries, who do not already have a Home Return Permit, can apply to their local Chinese foreign mission for a special travel pass to mainland China, although this document is not a Home Return Permit. This document is called the People's Republic of China Travel Document. (中華人民共和國旅行証)
They are still eligible for an HKSAR passport
issued by the Immigration Department
of the Hong Kong Government, or an MSAR passport by the Macau Government. The SAR passports are only issued to PRC citizens with the Right of Abode
in Hong Kong or Macau. The HKSAR passport allows travel to foreign countries and regions. Note that the HKSAR passport may not be used for travel to Macau; and while it is not to be used as a travel document for travel to Taiwan, it is nonetheless used in conjunction with the entry permit issued by the authorities in Taiwan so to prove the identity of the holder. PRC citizens holding an HKSAR passport cannot use the SAR passport to enter the Chinese mainland. The HKSAR Government has once 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".
Likewise, the home return permit cannot be used to enter Hong Kong or Macau.
(BN(O)s). The PRC Government does not recognise BN(O) passports issued to Hong Kong residents of PRC nationality. They cannot use their BN(O) passports to enter China before and after the handover.
, 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 PRC authority as PRC citizens. In this case, they can use their home-visit permits to enter mainland China instead of their foreign passports. Under the master nationality rule
, such nationals are not entitled foreign consular protection.
to visit Hong Kong and Macau just as they would for other countries.
(程翔), a Hong Kong-based journalist of the Singapore
an newspaper The Straits Times
, was arrested by the mainland national security authorities. He was accused of stealing "state secrets". The correspondent entered the mainland on his home return permit, while he is also a BN(O) passport holder. Since he is both PRC citizen, British National (Overseas), as well as a permanent resident of Singapore, some 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 said: "We can offer consular assistance but we cannot interfere in the legal affairs of another country." The PRC central government
never recognised his British National (Overseas) status. The PRC states that its citizens from Hong Kong cannot enjoy United Kingdom consular protection inside the PRC on the basis of their BN(O) or BC 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 are other cases that the British Government was asked to assist BN(O) passport holders detained inside the Chinese mainland.
, Emily Lau
and Christine Loh
attempted to use their British Citizen passports to enter mainland China because they were denied from applying for a Home Return Permit. These were rare occasions since they were considered to be detrimental to China
. Without the permit they are denied from entering mainland China; however, those politicians are still PRC citizens under the Chinese nationality law; acquisition of PRC citizenship of ethnic Chinese residents in Hong Kong is involuntary, although they may elect to forfeit their Chinese citizenship if they hold a foreign nationality, except the British National (Overseas)
status and the British citizenship obtained in the British Nationality Selection Scheme
.
Identity document
An identity document is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's personal identity. If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card...
officially known as the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents issued to PRC citizens who are permanent residents of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
as the entry permit to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The permit is issued by the Public Security Bureau
Public Security Bureau
In the People's Republic of China, a public security bureau refers to the government offices while the smaller offices are called Police posts which are similar in concept to the Japanese Kōban system) present in each province and municipality that handles policing , public security, and...
of Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
province through China Travel Service
China Travel Service
The China Travel Service is the tourism and travel agency of the government of the People's Republic of China. It was established on November 19, 1949 tasked with marketing China to the rest of the world and to promote and develop its tourism economy. It is a subordinate agency to the National...
sub-branches in Hong Kong and Macau and allows holders to travel freely to mainland China.
The word 'home' is used because this permit used to be issued to Chinese migrants living in Hong Kong and Macau for travelling to China which was their homeland. Today, most holders of this permit are people who were born and brought up in Hong Kong and Macau; the permit plays the role of a travel document for visiting China rather than a permit which allows the holder to 'return home'.
History
Before the transfer of the sovereignty of Hong KongTransfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
and Macau, 'home-return permits' were issued to any ethnic Chinese person in those territories.
Prior to 1999, permits were called Home-Visiting Certificate for Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau and resembled passports. These booklets were considered inconvenient, because they were large and cumbersome to carry around. Furthermore, the booklets were also found to be inefficient because they could only be used at manned checkpoints where a manual stamp could only be made by an immigration official. Thus they are being phased out as residents replace them upon expiration.
In 1999, the permit was changed into its current card and the official name has changed from 'Home-Visiting Certificate for Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau' to the current name.
Appearance
The current permit is a credit card-sized card which facilitates entry into mainland China at any manned immigration checkpoint or through self-service electronic gates (currently available at Hong Kong-ShenzhenShenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
,Macau-Zhuhai
Zhuhai
Zhuhai is a prefecture-level city on the southern coast of Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in the Pearl River Delta, Zhuhai borders Jiangmen to the northwest, Zhongshan to the north, and Macau to the south. Zhuhai was one of the original Special Economic Zones...
crossings and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
Pudong International Airport). These gates read the permit cards with an optical reader and use biometric software to match thumb prints and facial scans with those on record.
Validity
Most adult permits are valid for 10 years and minors under 18 years old are issued permits for three years. Temporary permits are given for practical 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. For instance, controversial individuals such as pro-democracy politicians—often from Hong Kong—are only issued single visit permits.Rights and responsibilities
Holders of the Home Return Permit are able to freely enter Mainland ChinaMainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
for tourism or business purposes (except purposes of employment) within the validity of their travel document, regardless of the point of origin whether it is from Hong Kong/Macau or from overseas. However, they must register with the local police (Public Security Bureau) within 24 hours - or within 72 hours in the countryside - if they are staying overnight for a short trip in a friend or relative's home.
If holders of the Home Return Permit intend to reside in the Mainland on a long term basis, they are required to first obtain permission from the local prefecture/municipality police (Public Security Bureau
Public Security Bureau
In the People's Republic of China, a public security bureau refers to the government offices while the smaller offices are called Police posts which are similar in concept to the Japanese Kōban system) present in each province and municipality that handles policing , public security, and...
), from whom they will obtain a special long-term residence permit if their application is accepted.
Applying for a Home Return Permit
The China Travel ServiceChina Travel Service
The China Travel Service is the tourism and travel agency of the government of the People's Republic of China. It was established on November 19, 1949 tasked with marketing China to the rest of the world and to promote and develop its tourism economy. It is a subordinate agency to the National...
(CTS) is the sole authorised agency by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) to provide services to help accept applications in Hong Kong and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
. However, it is the Guangdong Province PSB that processes the applications.
Holders who have lost their Home Return Permit in the Mainland can apply for a temporary replacement at the CTS branch in Huanggang
Huanggang
Huanggang is a city in Hubei, China.Huanggang may also refer to:* Huanggang, Shenzhen, area in Shenzhen, China* Huanggang, Funan County, town in Anhui, China...
. They will, however, need to apply for a full, new Home Return Permit on return to Hong Kong or Macau with the CTS.
Hong Kong and Macau permanent residents in foreign countries, who do not already have a Home Return Permit, can apply to their local Chinese foreign mission for a special travel pass to mainland China, although this document is not a Home Return Permit. This document is called the People's Republic of China Travel Document. (中華人民共和國旅行証)
Nationality of holders
A home return permit constitutes proof of PRC citizenship; however, not all PRC citizens in Hong Kong or Macau have a home return permit. Unlike a compulsory Hong Kong identity card, application for a home return permit is voluntary.They are still eligible for an HKSAR passport
HKSAR Passport
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport is issued to permanent residents of Hong Kong who are citizens of the People's Republic of China...
issued by the Immigration Department
Immigration Department
The Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained largely unchanged from its British predecessor model...
of the Hong Kong Government, or an MSAR passport by the Macau Government. The SAR passports are only issued to PRC citizens with the Right of Abode
Right of abode issue, Hong Kong
The right of abode in Hong Kong is the right to legally reside in Hong Kong and was governed by rules both under British and Chinese administration. As the People's Republic of China stood to resume sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, the nationality of Hong Kongers as well as their right of abode...
in Hong Kong or Macau. The HKSAR passport allows travel to foreign countries and regions. Note that the HKSAR passport may not be used for travel to Macau; and while it is not to be used as a travel document for travel to Taiwan, it is nonetheless used in conjunction with the entry permit issued by the authorities in Taiwan so to prove the identity of the holder. PRC citizens holding an HKSAR passport cannot use the SAR passport to enter the Chinese mainland. The HKSAR Government has once 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".
Likewise, the home return permit cannot be used to enter Hong Kong or Macau.
Issues facing British passport holders
Many, but not all, residents of Hong Kong are British Nationals (Overseas)British National (Overseas)
British National , commonly known as BN, is one of the major classes of British nationality under British nationality law. Holders of this nationality are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British Citizens...
(BN(O)s). The PRC Government does not recognise BN(O) passports issued to Hong Kong residents of PRC nationality. They cannot use their BN(O) passports to enter China before and after the handover.
Issues facing other foreign passport holders
Besides BN(O) status, British citizenship and PRC citizenship, many Hong Kong residents have obtained overseas citizenship in countries such as AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
or the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Officially speaking, if they have not made a "declaration of change of nationality" at the Immigration Department of Hong Kong
Immigration Department (Hong Kong)
The Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained largely unchanged from its British predecessor model...
, they are regarded by the PRC authority as PRC citizens. In this case, they can use their home-visit permits to enter mainland China instead of their foreign passports. Under the master nationality rule
Master Nationality Rule
The Master Nationality Rule is a consequence of Article 4 of The Hague Convention on Certain Questions Relating to the Conflict of Nationality Laws of 1930.This provides that;The United Kingdom Home Office explains:...
, such nationals are not entitled foreign consular protection.
Reciprocal treatment for residents of mainland China
PRC citizens that are residents in the mainland of China are required to apply for an exit endorsementOne-way Permit
A One-way Permit is a document issued by the People's Republic of China allowing residents of mainland China to leave the mainland for Hong Kong....
to visit Hong Kong and Macau just as they would for other countries.
Ching Cheong
In 2005, Ching CheongChing Cheong
Ching Cheong is a senior journalist with The Straits Times. He is best known for having been detained by the People's Republic of China on allegations of spying for Taiwan. He was imprisoned from April 2005 to February 2008, spending more than 1000 days in prison. Human rights advocates and...
(程翔), a Hong Kong-based journalist of the Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an newspaper The Straits Times
The Straits Times
The Straits Times is an English language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore currently owned by Singapore Press Holdings . It is the country's highest-selling paper, with a current daily circulation of nearly 400,000...
, was arrested by the mainland national security authorities. He was accused of stealing "state secrets". The correspondent entered the mainland on his home return permit, while he is also a BN(O) passport holder. Since he is both PRC citizen, British National (Overseas), as well as a permanent resident of Singapore, some organisations, like the Hong Kong Journalists' Association and Reporters without borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
, urged the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
Jack Straw (politician)
John Whitaker Straw is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Blackburn since 1979. He served as Home Secretary from 1997 to 2001, Foreign Secretary from 2001 to 2006 and Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons from 2006 to 2007 under Tony Blair...
to intervene. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
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 said: "We can offer consular assistance but we cannot interfere in the legal affairs of another country." The PRC central government
Central People's Government
The Central People's Government is the central government of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. According to the 1982 Constitution, "Central People's Government" is synonymous with the State Council.-History:...
never recognised his British National (Overseas) status. The PRC states that its citizens from Hong Kong cannot enjoy United Kingdom consular protection inside the PRC on the basis of their BN(O) or BC 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 are other cases that the British Government was asked to assist BN(O) passport holders detained inside the Chinese mainland.
Pro-democracy politicians
Before the handover some pro-democracy Hong Kong politicians, such as Margaret NgMargaret Ng
Dr Margaret Ng Ngoi Yee is a politician, barrister, writer and columnist in Hong Kong. She has been a member of Legislative Council of Hong Kong since 1995....
, Emily Lau
Emily Lau
Emily Lau Wai-hing JP is one of two vice-chairmen of Democratic Party.She was the convenor of The Frontier...
and Christine Loh
Christine Loh
- External links :* ] ]*...
attempted to use their British Citizen passports to enter mainland China because they were denied from applying for a Home Return Permit. These were rare occasions since they were considered to be detrimental to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Without the permit they are denied from entering mainland China; however, those politicians are still PRC citizens under the Chinese nationality law; acquisition of PRC citizenship of ethnic Chinese residents in Hong Kong is involuntary, although they may elect to forfeit their Chinese citizenship if they hold a foreign nationality, except the British National (Overseas)
British National (Overseas)
British National , commonly known as BN, is one of the major classes of British nationality under British nationality law. Holders of this nationality are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British Citizens...
status and the British citizenship obtained in the British Nationality Selection Scheme
British Nationality Selection Scheme
The British Nationality Selection Scheme was a process used to grant British citizenship to selected persons in Hong Kong between 1990 and 1997.-Basis of the scheme:...
.
See also
- British nationality law and Hong KongBritish nationality law and Hong KongBritish nationality law as it pertains to Hong Kong has been unusual ever since Hong Kong became a British colony in 1842. From its beginning as a sparsely populated trading port to today's cosmopolitan international financial centre of over seven million people, the territory has attracted...
- Chinese nationality law
- CitizenshipCitizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
- Exit & Entry Permit (Republic of China)
- Foreign relations of Hong KongForeign relations of Hong KongHong Kong is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China . Under the Basic Law of Hong Kong, its diplomatic relations and defence are the responsibility of the Central People's Government of the PRC. Nonetheless, Hong Kong has retained considerable autonomy in all other...
- Hong Kong SAR passport
- Lo WuLo WuLo Wu or Lowu is an area in North District, New Territories, Hong Kong. It lies on the borders between Hong Kong and mainland China, specifically the Luohu District of Shenzhen in mainland China. The area is most notable as the location of the most heavily used immigration control point for...
- NationalityNationalityNationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
- PassportPassportA passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
- Portuguese nationality lawPortuguese nationality lawPortuguese nationality law is the legal set of rules that regulate access to Portuguese citizenship, which is acquired mainly through descent from a Portuguese parent, naturalisation in Portugal or marriage to a Portuguese citizen....
- Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permit
- VisaVisa (document)A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
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 BIG5)
- 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
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- 大眾遊箱﹕回鄉證毋須半年有效期 往返內地