This article analyses the One Way Permit Policy and investigates the demographic profile of the mainland Chinese immigrants on the scheme.
The One Way Permit Policy
The One
Way Permit Policy is primarily a family reunion immigration scheme for mainland
Chinese immigrants to come to Hong Kong. Since the handover in 1997, the number
of OWP’s has been set between the Hong Kong and Chinese Governments. The OWP scheme
is an approved document for mainland Chinese to take up residence in Hong Kong
and 150 permits per day are issued by the relevant Chinese departments. People who fulfil any of the following
requirements are eligible to apply:[i]
- “Either spouse resides permanently in Hong Kong or Macau, with the couple living separately for many years.”
- “Parents residing in Hong Kong or Macau are old and require caretaking by children currently residing in mainland China.”
- “Elderly or young children residing in the mainland without support want to move to Hong Kong or Macau to be with direct family or close relatives.”
- “Property located in Hong Kong or Macau left by parents are without any potential heirs already residing in those locations, and are to be inherited by individuals living in the mainland.”
- “Other special circumstances.”
Table 1: Categories: The 150 Daily Permits
| Category | Daily Quota |
| Children of resident permit holders | 60 |
| Spouses that have been separated for at least 10 years and any accompanying children | 30 |
| Others who fulfil the other conditions above | 60 |
The OWP
schemes between HKSAR and the mainland Chinese Government have arguably been
important economically in providing population growth for Hong Kong and
reuniting families.[ii]
Furthermore, the 2013 Hong Kong census has outlined the importance of the OWP
schemes in providing sustained economic growth for Hong Kong.[iii]
Demographic Distribution of the One Way Permit Scheme Holders
The
Hong Kong Council of Social Service report has shown how the demographic
characteristics of OWP holders has changed. In the past three years, over a
half of the OWP holders have been aged between 25 and 44. In contrast, the
number of people aged 25 to 44 within the total population in Hong Kong has
fallen from 35.8% in 2001 to 29.5% in 2011. As this age group makes up the bulk
of the labour force, this incoming group of one way permit holders can not only
help to reduce the costs borne by society to pay for elderly care, and also
alleviate the financial implications of a shrinking workforce.
Table 2: Distribution of one way permit holders by age (in percentage) (2011-2013)
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
||||
Number
|
Percentage
|
Number
|
Percentage
|
Number
|
Percentage
|
|
< 15
|
7,463
|
17.2%
|
6,925
|
12.7%
|
7,234
|
16.1%
|
15 – 24
|
5,714
|
13.2%
|
4,803
|
8.8%
|
4,352
|
9.7%
|
25 – 44
|
24,701
|
56.9%
|
31,747
|
58.1%
|
25,346
|
56.3%
|
45 – 64
|
5,152
|
11.9%
|
10,585
|
19.4%
|
7,512
|
16.7%
|
> 65
|
349
|
0.8%
|
586
|
1%
|
587
|
1.3%
|
Total
|
43,379
|
100%
|
54,646
|
100%
|
45,031
|
100%
|
Table 3: Distribution of Hong Kong citizens by age (excluding foreign domestic workers) (2001, 2006, 2011)
2001
|
2006
|
2011
|
|
< 15
|
17.0%
|
14.1%
|
12.1%
|
15 – 24
|
13.6%
|
13.2%
|
12.6%
|
25 – 44
|
35.8%
|
32.4%
|
29.5%
|
45 – 64
|
22.2%
|
27.6%
|
32.0%
|
> 65
|
11.4%
|
12.8%
|
13.8%
|
Total
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
The
education level of OWP holder has also been on the rise in recent years, with
the percentage of university graduates amongst permit holders aged 15 and above
has increased from 10% in 2003 to nearly 18% in 2013. In 2011, this group among
the Hong Kong native population was 24%. Although there is still a significant
difference between the two populations, it is evident that the former is
growing in size.
Table 4: Distribution of One Way Permit Holders above 15 years old by Education Level (2003, 2008, 2013)
2003
|
2008
|
2013
|
||||
Number
|
%
|
Number
|
%
|
Number
|
%
|
|
No Education
/ Kindergarten |
1,248
|
3.2%
|
488
|
1.6%
|
586
|
1.6%
|
Primary School
|
5,271
|
13.6%
|
3,359
|
10.7%
|
3,975
|
10.5%
|
Secondary School
|
28,233
|
73.1%
|
23,342
|
74.3%
|
26,612
|
70.4%
|
University and above
|
3,888
|
10.1%
|
4,246
|
13.5%
|
6,624
|
17.5%
|
Total
|
38,640
|
100%
|
31,435
|
100%
|
37,797
|
100%
|
Table 5: Distribution of One Way Permit Holders above 15 years old by Employment Status (2003, 2008, 2013)
2003
|
2008
|
2013
|
||||
Number
|
%
|
Number
|
%
|
Number
|
%
|
|
Working
|
8,441
|
21.8%
|
9,722
|
30.9%
|
15,873
|
42.0%
|
Student
|
2,947
|
7.6%
|
4,544
|
14.5%
|
2,917
|
7.7%
|
Homemaker
|
23,204
|
60.1%
|
13,075
|
41.6%
|
13,219
|
35.0%
|
Retired
|
1,164
|
3.0%
|
475
|
1.5%
|
641
|
1.7%
|
Others
|
2,884
|
7.5%
|
3,619
|
11.5%
|
5,147
|
13.6%
|
Total
|
38,640
|
100%
|
31,435
|
100%
|
37,797
|
100%
|
The One Way Permit Policy: Family Reunion Scheme
This article
has shown how the OWP scheme has evolved since 1997 and the changing
demographics of the scheme. Arguably, the OWP scheme benefits Hong Kong society
by helping to reduce the costs borne by society to pay for elderly care, and
also alleviates the financial implications of a shrinking workforce.
[i] Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Social Development Policy Bulletin,「移民政策與社會發展」The Evolution of Hong Kong Immigration and Migration Policies, March 2014,
http://www.hkcss.org.hk/uploadfileMgnt/0_201444114546.pdf (accessed 8th July). (Chinese only) pp.4-9
[ii] Skeldon, R. (2014)
Hong Kong's future population and manpower needs to 2030. Technical Report.
Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre, Hong Kong http://www.bauhinia.org/document/doc173eng.pdf
(accessed
1st September 2014).
[iii] Legislative Council Secretariat, Hong Kong’s population policy. IN02/13-14, 4th February 2014, Hong Kong: HKSAR Government, http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr13-14/english/sec/library/1314in02_20140204-e.pdf (accessed 1st October 2014) pp.5-9
This article is an extract from a Civic Exchange research intern paper by James Downes on: Integration in Hong Kong Society: A Report on the Integration of New Immigrants from Mainland China in Hong Kong. The author would also like to especially thank KayKey Teo (Ph.D Candidate, Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore) for her expert translation from Chinese to English for the policy report which formed this study.
