Travel documents of HK, Macao carry more benefits

Over 8 million Hong Kong and Macao residents and overseas Chinese have benefited from the expanded scope of their exit and entry documents during their stay on the mainland since March last year, the National Immigration Administration said on Tuesday.

The administration worked jointly with 14 departments including the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Market Regulation to expand the services that overseas Chinese can enjoy with their exit and entry documents.

In total, 35 types of services have been streamlined to help Hong Kong and Macao residents and overseas Chinese reduce inconvenience when using such documents.

With their exit and entry documents, they can now take advantage of public employment services, register for social insurance, apply for social security cards, register companies, make medical appointments online and apply for birth certificates for newborns, among other government affairs services.

Further, public services that will allow them to inquire about personal income tax records, manage taxes online, take professional and technical personnel qualification examinations, apply for teacher qualification certification and other services will be implemented soon.

Measures that allow entry and exit documents to buy plane tickets, perform self check-ins at airports, manage telecommunication services, open bank accounts and register for hotels have been almost fully implemented nationwide.

The remaining services are related to internet applications. Tencent, JD.com and Alipay have taken the lead in connecting with the entry-exit identity authentication platform and accept users' registration with valid entry and exit certificates. Online ride-hailing, bike-sharing and online job-hunting platforms have been upgraded to accept such certificates. A service that will allow the opening of online securities trading accounts is still being upgraded.

"The wider applications of exit and entry documents has made it possible for people in Hong Kong and Macao as well as overseas Chinese to enjoy the same convenient, efficient, intelligent and accurate public livelihood services as mainland residents," said Yin Chengji, deputy director of the National Immigration Administration.

Hong Kong and Macao residents and overseas Chinese make 200 million trips to China each year, accounting for 40 percent of the number of Chinese people entering and leaving the country, according to the administration.

The administration has developed an identity authentication platform for entry and exit documents. That platform is connected with the national government affairs service platform, providing technical support for various ministries and provincial government affairs service platforms.

By the end of last year, 257 enterprises and public institutions had applied through the user management system for authentication service, and 4 million people had been checked and verified on the service platform.

The wider applications have expanded online channels for handling business, so overseas residents without mainland bank cards can open online mobile payments after the online verification of the document, Yin said.

"It also enables residents of Hong Kong and Macao and overseas Chinese to apply for jobs, shop, enjoy entertainment and socialize online, and share the new achievements of the development of internet technology in the new era," Yin added.