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The Global Insight

Who counts as Hong Kong resident?

Author

James Williams

Updated on March 08, 2026

Chinese citizens who have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years before or after the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Persons of Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong whose parents are permanent residents listed in categories (1) and (2);

Can I lose my Hong Kong permanent residency?

Under Hong Kong’s Immigration Ordinance, the status of a permanent resident can be lost. Permanent residents who are not Chinese citizens lose that status if they are absent from Hong Kong for any continuous period of 3 years or more (paragraph 7 of schedule 1 to the Immigration Ordinance).

Who is eligible for HKID?

177), all residents of age 11 or above who are living in Hong Kong for longer than 180 days must, within 30 days of either reaching the age of 11 or arriving in Hong Kong, register for an HKID. HKIDs contain amongst others the name of the bearer in English, and if applicable in Chinese.

What is your nationality if you were born in Hong Kong?

Under articles 4 and 5 of the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China, persons of Chinese descent, regardless of whether they were born in China (including Hong Kong) are usually considered to be Chinese citizens.

What is a resident of Hong Kong called?

Hongkongers (Chinese: 香港人), also known as Hong Kongers, Hong Kongese, Hongkongese, Hong Kong citizen and Hong Kong people, typically refers to legal residents of the city of Hong Kong; although may also refer to others who were born and/or raised in the city.

What is the difference between a permanent resident and a Canadian citizen?

The main difference is that before someone can become a citizen, they must first become a permanent resident. Permanent residents can apply for citizenship once they have met certain residency requirements. Once you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need to do anything to maintain your citizenship.

Can I get Hong Kong citizenship?

A person is eligible to apply for a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Passport if he/she is: a Chinese citizen; a permanent resident of the HKSAR; and. a holder of a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card.

Can Hong Kong permanent residents vote?

A1: If you are a Hong Kong permanent resident aged 18 or above, and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong, you are eligible to sign up as a geographical constituency elector. A2: Only after you have registered as an elector can you exercise your right to vote in the Legislative Council and District Council elections.

What does 3 stars mean on HKID?

The 3 stars on your HKID indicate that you are eligible for an HKSAR Re-entry permit. In this case, you are either a Chinese citizen or stateless. If you hold permanent residency of HKSAR but not Chinese citizenship, you HKID does not have ***. You are not eligible for an HKSAR Re-entry permit.

Can foreigners buy property in Hong Kong?

Most foreigners can buy in Hong Kong but, in an attempt to cool the market and put off overseas speculation, the government has imposed an extra 15% Buyers’ Stamp Duty on foreign sales. There is also additional stamp duty for second homes and for homes resold within three years.

Who are the permanent residents of Hong Kong?

The legal status of Hong Kong permanent resident of Hong Kong may be obtained by anyone, no matter whether the persons have Chinese nationality or not. The Hong Kong Basic Law (the de facto constitution of Hong Kong) stated that the following persons are the Hong Kong permanent residents of Hong Kong:

Are there any Hong Kong born people in Canada?

In addition to returning Hong Kong-born Canadians, the 2016 Canadian Census also reported an increase in the number of new migrants from Hong Kong that became permanent residents in Canada. According to the Canadian Consulate General in Hong Kong, there are 500,000 people of Hong Kong descent in Canada.

When did Hong Kong immigrants come to Canada?

Most Hong Kong Canadians are immigrants and their descendants who have settled in Canada since the late 1970s. However, earlier immigrants could be traced back to the early 19th Century when Hong Kong became a British crown colony, when a number of Hongkongers migrated to North America, including Canada.

When do you lose the Hong Kong permanent residence statue?

However, the foreigners lose the statue of permanent residency when they do not stay in Hong Kong for more than 3 years, and curtain occupational categories are excluded such as foreign domestic helpers from acquiring Hong Kong permanent resident status. We can found only 2 type of Hong Kong Identity Card: