POLICE in Guangdong Province announced 18 new policies Tuesday to facilitate the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Starting from the first quarter of 2018, visitors from 53 countries shall enjoy 144-hour visa-free transit in Guangdong, said Zheng Dong, deputy director of the province’s Public Security Department.
“Foreign transit passengers can enjoy this policy when entering China from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport,” Zheng said. “But they are required to remain within Guangdong during the 144 hours.”
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area consists of nine Pearl River Delta cities along with Hong Kong and Macao.
According to the new policies, highly qualified individuals recommended by governments of the nine cities and Jieyang can apply for permanent residence in China. The right will be extended to their spouse and children.
Expats who work in startup businesses or work as technicians in enterprises in the Greater Bay Area and Jieyang Sino-Germany Metal Eco City, can also apply for permanent residency.
Furthermore, expats who invest more than US$1 million in the Greater Bay Area or Jieyang Sino-German Metal Eco City for three consecutive years can apply for permanent residence.
Non-commercial vehicles with cross-boundary plates shall access the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao (HZM) Bridge without the need of a permit, according to Zheng.
He also said Guangdong will issue an additional 10,000 license plates to vehicles from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region before the HZM Bridge opens.
Half will be issued this month, while the other half will be approved before the bridge begins operation early next year, said Zheng.
“Meanwhile, negotiations are under way with Hong Kong authorities to grant even more license plates to Hong Kong vehicles,” he said.
“The move aims to help further expand cooperation among Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong, and better serve the economic construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”
Guangdong has issued more than 75,000 license plates to vehicles from neighboring Hong Kong and Macao, allowing them on the roads of one of the mainland’s economic powerhouses, which is home to many foreign-funded companies and joint ventures.
(SD News)