Talents from more places in the Chinese mainland are set to enjoy relaxed multiple-entry permits to the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, mainland authorities said on Monday.

The initiative is among 10 measures set to streamline border immigration controls rolled out by China's National Immigration Administration designed to “support high-level opening-up and high-quality development”.

Effective Wednesday, eligible mainland professionals — including high-level talents and specialists in research, culture, education, healthcare, and law — will be eligible to apply for multiple-entry permits to the two SARs. The permits are valid for one to five years, allowing stays of up to 30 days per visit, with applications based on official talent certification.

The policy, previously piloted in Beijing, Shanghai, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will be extended to cover the entire Yangtze River Delta and Jing-Jin-Ji cluster — Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions, as well as all national Pilot Free Trade Zones across the country.

Similar relaxation will also be applied for talents working in the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Innovation Cooperation Zone. Mainland talents working in the park's research institutions and tech enterprises can, upon registration with the park's management, obtain a three-year, multiple-entry talent permit for Hong Kong and Macao without submitting additional proof of talent.

High-tech and advanced manufacturing firms will receive preferential quotas for such permits.

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Emerging and start-up companies within the zone will be exempted from first-year tax revenue requirements when applying for business travel permits to the two SARs.

Dedicated lanes and streamlined arrangements will be established at Huanggang and Futian ports for the cooperation zone to provide fast-track clearance for frequent travelers.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com