New policies for residents of HK, Macau

The Chinese mainland is considering a series of new preferential policies for Hong Kong and Macau residents, according to an official with the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council yesterday.

The central government has listed nearly 50 concerns of Hong Kong and Macau residents who live, study and work on the mainland, ranging from social insurance applications and education access to job opportunities and tourism services, the unidentified official said.

Hong Kong and Macau residents working on the mainland will be granted equal rights to housing provident funds to help them buy homes and settle on the mainland, the official said.

Under current regulations, urban residents on the mainland, together with their employers, pay a portion of their incomes into the housing provident fund to be eligible for low-interest housing loans. The fund can also be used for rent, renovations and major illnesses.

The official also said human resources authorities on the mainland are deliberating policies to give Hong Kong and Macau residents who live, work or study on the mainland access to social security.

The mainland also encourages such residents to work in institutions such as hospitals and universities.

The Ministry of Education will ensure equal opportunities for students from Hong Kong and Macau to receive compulsory education. It has told institutions to standardize enrollment and provide instructions in seeking jobs, establishing student clubs and applying for medical insurance.