"The existing dependant policy has been thoroughly reviewed to ensure that it continues to meet Hong Kong's needs and help attract people with the right talent and skills to come to Hong Kong whilst minimizing the associated immigration and security risks," a Hong Kong Security Bureau spokesman was quoted as saying in a government press release on Monday.

"In conducting the review, we have taken into account the evolving policies on the importation of talents and professionals, especially those from the (Chinese) mainland, as well as the new scheme to attract capital investment entrants to Hong Kong," he said.

The following policy changes will take effect from July 1, 2003,according to the press release.

(a) the age limit for unmarried dependent children applying to enter Hong Kong for residence as dependants would be lowered from under the age of 21 to under the age of 18;

(b) the age requirement for dependent parents would be raised from aged 50 or above to aged 60 or above;

(c) for persons admitted into Hong Kong to take up employment or study in full-time undergraduate or post-graduate programs in local degree-awarding institutions, or as capital investment entrants, their spouses and unmarried dependent children, but not their parents, would be eligible to apply for entry to take up residence in Hong Kong as their dependants;

(d) whilst the policy excluding Chinese mainland residents from entering Hong Kong as dependants should be continued, such an exclusion should not apply where the sponsors have been admitted into Hong Kong to take up employment or full-time tertiary study under schemes or arrangements catering for Chinese mainland residents. Furthermore, the present prohibition precluding such sponsors to bring in their overseas dependants, where any, should be discontinued;

(e) dependants of persons granted entry into Hong Kong to take up employment or study or as capital investment entrants would be required to apply for permission from the Director of Immigration to take up employment in Hong Kong. Such applications would be considered on the basis of criteria similar to those under the General Employment Policy;

(f) the previous restriction on the entry of nationals or residents from certain countries or regions has been removed. Nationals of Bulgaria, Romania, Mongolia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and ex- (Chinese) mainland residents in Macao may apply for entry for residence under the new dependant policy; and

(g) under existing policy, for humanitarian and compassionate reasons, widows of any age or widowers over the age of 50 may apply to enter Hong Kong as dependants to join their nearest or only surviving relatives who are residents in Hong Kong. Under the new policy, both widows and widowers would be subject to the same age requirement i.e. they must be aged 60 or above before being eligible for exceptional treatment as dependants.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2003)