Lawmaker Wong Sai Man has called on the government to reduce the barriers for Macao-based foreigners who wish to enter Hengqin for work or residence.
During a Legislative Assembly session that was reported by local media outlets yesterday, Wong said that SAR and Mainland authorities could ease travel restrictions for eligible foreigners in Macao by introducing a special travel permit that enabled them to cross to Hengqin with their passports.
“The SAR government could issue a kind of travel permit for foreigners who travel between Macao and Hengqin in conjunction with relevant mainland departments,” the lawmaker said.
[See more: Macao-based foreigners can get Hengqin visa from tomorrow]
Such a border-crossing process would be on par with the travel rights currently enjoyed by Macao residents, with Wong noting that it would help lure foreign talent to Hengqin.
Currently, only Macao residents with a home return permit are able to enter Hengqin without a visa. Macao residents without such documentation, as well as foreign nationals, are still required to apply for a visa.
Foreign permanent residents of the SAR can apply for multiple entry visas with a validity period of five years, while foreign non-permanent residents can apply for the same type of visa, although the validity will match that of their resident ID card.
