Statement made by Acting Chief Executive on Request of “Association of Macao Permanent Resident Parents of Non-beneficial Children”

In response to the drastic request made by the “Association of Macao Permanent Resident Parents of Non-beneficial Children” this afternoon at the Headquarters of the Macao SAR Government, demanding the government to assist those non-beneficial children to reside in Macao, the SAR government reaffirms the following: 1. In pursuant to the stipulation of Article 22 of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, Mainland residents entering Macao for residence is governed by the Central People's Government. The Central People's Government has clearly defined the principle and the scope for the settlement of “Adult Children”. There is only one arrangement, which was initiated on 1 December 2009, for “Adult Children” entering Macao for residence. No alteration is made or will be made on the arrangement. 2. The issue of “Adult Children” in Macao has reached a reasonable and complete settlement. Any Mainland relatives of Macao residents who are not within the scope of “Adult Children” specified in the “Guidance Notes on Application for Adult Children of Macao Residents in Mainland to Enter Macao for Residence” must make the application to reside in Macao according to the existing regulations of the Public Security Authority in Mainland. 3. The policy of the Central Government employs the identical standard in solving the “Adult Children” issue in the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR. Other implementation details are adjusted according to the practical situation in two regions. The only difference between Hong Kong and Macao is the time of initiating the measures. The Macao SAR Government launched the Central People's Government's measures to solve the “Adult Children” issue more than one year prior to the Hong Kong SAR Government.