Hong Kong Ordinances

THE BASIC LAW OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA - ARTICLE 24

Chapter III Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Residents

Article 24
Residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("Hong Kong
residents") shall include permanent residents and non-permanent residents. The
permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be:

(1) Chinese citizens born in Hong Kong before or after the establishment of
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;

(2) Chinese citizens who have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous
period of not less than seven years before or after the establishment of the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;

*(3) Persons of Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong of those residents
listed in categories (1) and (2);

(4) Persons not of Chinese nationality who have entered Hong Kong with valid
travel documents, have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period
of not less than seven years and have taken Hong Kong as their place of
permanent residence before or after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region;

(5) Persons under 21 years of age born in Hong Kong of those residents listed
in category (4) before or after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region; and

(6) Persons other than those residents listed in categories (1) to

(5), who, before the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region, had the right of abode in Hong Kong only. The above-mentioned
residents shall have the right of abode in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region and shall be qualified to obtain, in accordance with the
laws of the Region, permanent identity cards which state their right of abode.
The non-permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
shall be persons who are qualified to obtain Hong Kong identity cards in
accordance with the laws of the Region but have no right of abode.
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_________ Note:

* See The Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress of Articles 22(4) and 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (Adopted by
the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress at its Tenth
Session on 26 June 1999) (Chapter 2106)