The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

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Topical Issues

7. The position of Non-Chinese citizens

You can enjoy the ROA in the HKSAR if :

you were a permanent resident of Hong Kong before 1 July 1997; and

you were settled in Hong Kong immediately before 1 July 1997; or
after you ceased to be settled in Hong Kong immediately before 1 July 1997 you return to settle in Hong Kong within the period of 18 months commencing on 1 July 1997; or
after you ceased to be settled in Hong Kong immediately before 1 July 1997 you return to settle in Hong Kong after the period of 18 months commencing on 1 July 1997 but only if you have been absent from Hong Kong for a continuous period of less than 36 months; or

If you are not able to satisfy any of the above requirements, you will lose your status as a permanent resident but, in that event, you will automatically acquire the RTL (see Part 1 for the meaning of "RTL"). You will still be able to enter the HKSAR freely to live, study and work, without any restriction. You will also be able to re-acquire the ROA in the HKSAR if you subsequently satisfy the requirements under either of the two parts listed below.

	you have entered Hong Kong with a valid travel document and
'immediately before' the date on which you apply for the ROA, you have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years; and you have made a declaration and have provided the required information to demonstrate that you have taken Hong Kong as your place of permanent residence; and your application to have the status of a permanent resident in the HKSAR has been approved by the Director of Immigration; or
	you are under 21 years of age and born in Hong Kong to a parent who has the ROA in Hong Kong under Part 4, category (d), at the date of your birth or at any later time before you attain 21 years of age.
after you have attained the age of 21 years and ceased to be a permanent resident of the HKSAR under this category, you may apply to the Director of Immigration for the status of a permanent resident of the HKSAR under Part 4, category (d).