30th October 2024 – (Hong Kong) Hong Kong newborns will soon enjoy easier access to the mainland as authorities prepare to implement a new measure allowing parents to obtain on-site permits at four designated border control points.

Gary Chan Hak-kan from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) announced on Wednesday that parents will be able to apply for a permit for their newborns, which will be valid for one-time entry and exit within three months. However, a specific implementation date has yet to be confirmed.

The designated border control points for this new initiative include Luohu, Huanggang, Shekou ports, and Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

Chan explained that the decision to introduce this measure was prompted by feedback from new parents who reported difficulties in travelling to the mainland with their infants. Currently, the processing of temporary documents for newborns requires at least five working days, a concern Chan has raised with mainland authorities through China’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

The Exit-Entry Administration of the People’s Republic of China has confirmed that relevant measures will be put in place. Under the new protocol, parents who need to travel urgently can present necessary documents at the designated ports, including the infant’s identification documents, birth certificate, and the guardian’s ID. They will then be able to apply for a one-time entry and exit permit valid for three months.

Additionally, Chan intends to propose that mainland authorities expand this initiative to include the Shenzhen Bay and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge ports, recognising that many new parents also use cross-boundary vehicles for travel.