The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced Wednesday that the relaxed immigration policy governing the entry of dependents for residence in Hong Kong would take effect from June 1.
   
Under the policy announced on May 18, Chinese mainland spouses and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 of the following categories of persons will be allowed to apply to reside in Hong Kong as the dependents of their sponsors:

* persons admitted for employment, investment and training under the General Employment Policy;

* persons admitted under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme;

* foreigners and overseas Chinese admitted under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme;

* overseas Chinese admitted for employment; and

* overseas students admitted for studying in full-time undergraduate or post-graduate programs in local degree-awarding institutions.

The length of stay of dependents is linked to that of their sponsors. They are required to leave Hong Kong as and when the sponsors leave.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2007)