Residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have lived on the Chinese mainland for more than six months will be able to apply for mainland residence permits from the start of next month. People's Daily comments:

Under the new rule, applicants from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan who have stable jobs and accommodation or who are studying on the mainland will be eligible to apply for a mainland residence permit starting next month. There is no need for the applicants to have mainland hukou (household residence registration), nor to give up their residency and welfare entitlements in Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan.

The residence permit card, which can be read automatically by electronic terminal devices in places such as railway stations, airports and banks, will grant the permit holders basically the same treatment as mainland residents in such public services as employment, social security, medical and legal services, vehicle license applications, and hotel and travel ticket booking, thus bringing greater convenience to them while they are studying, working and living on the mainland.

The move is part of efforts to comprehensively promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao, formulate and improve policies and measures for Hong Kong and Macao residents working or studying on the mainland and gradually provide equal treatment to Taiwan compatriots for their studying, starting businesses, employment and living on the mainland.

The move also aims to promote and enhance the national identity and sense of belonging to the nation among Hong Kong and Macao and Taiwan compatriots who have made important contributions to the nation's reform and opening-up and its modernization drive over the past decades. The latest measure will ensure that they will be better able to share the opportunities presented by the mainland's development and feel a greater sense of gain from the realization of the Chinese Dream.