Children of Chinese nationality who are living in inland areas of China and whose parents are permanent residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region ( SAR), will be soon able to apply for permanent residence in Macao. The authorities have expressed their belief that this matter is likely to be smoothly processed due to years of experience in handling applications for settlement in the Hong Kong SAR by children of Chinese nationality whose parents are permanent residents of Hong Kong.

An announcement published here today by the Exit and Entry Administration under the Ministry of Public Security says that exit and entry administrations at different levels will start handling the applications from eligible applicants.

According to the 24th article of the Macao SAR Basic Law, children of Chinese nationality who are living in the inland areas of China and whose parents are Macao permanent residents, began enjoying the right of residence on December 20, 1999, when China resumed its exercise of sovereignty over the territory.

A special monthly quota of 420 has been set for the number of these applicants who will be allowed to join their parents as permanent residents of Macao, according to the announcement.

The applicants should bring with them legal documents to certify their own permanent residence, birth, their parents' marriage, and their father's or mother's identity card as a permanent resident in Macao.

The applicants should first hand over their application and the certifications to local exit and entry administrations and then the application and the certifications will be checked by authorities at county, prefecture (or city) and provincial levels in a step-by-step fashion.

Afterwards, the application and the certifications will be transferred to the Macao SAR authorities for further examination. Those who are approved will be granted the official pass for entering and exiting Hong Kong and Macao.

In consideration of Macao's capability to accept migrants, the applications will be handled by quota and in an orderly manner, according to relevant regulations.

Applicants whose parents both live in Macao will be examined by the order of age, and priority will be given to the younger ones. For those who have one parent living in Macao and the other living in inland China, their applications will be handled in accordance with the length of time their parents have lived separately. Priority will go to those whose parents have lived in separation for the most years.