The Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) received on Monday the
first batch of applications for the country's new "green cards" for
permanent residence.
Joan Hinton from the United States, Kyoko Nakamura from Japan
and eight other foreigners who filed their applications yesterday
will get permanent residence cards within one month, said Liu
Jiewei, an official with the bureau's Entry-Exit Administrative
Division.
All 10 applicants already hold certificates of resettlement or
permanent residence.
Since 1986, the PSB has issued permanent residence certificates
to 35 foreigners who have made great contributions to China's
revolution and construction. Since the People's Republic of China
was founded in 1949, another 277 foreigners have been issued
certificates of resettlement in Beijing.
"At present, a total of 156 foreigners from 20 countries hold
one of the two kinds of certificates and are living and working in
Beijing," said Liu.
He said these people can now change their old certificates to
the unified green card for a fee of 300 yuan (US$36).
New applicants who meet the requirements of the revised
permanent residence scheme can also apply for a green card. The
cost is 1,500 yuan (US$181).
According to the Regulations on Examination and Approval of
Permanent Residence of Aliens in China, promulgated on August 15,
eligibility for permanent residence mainly applies to four
categories of people.
The first group is senior-level foreign personnel who hold posts
in businesses that promote China's economic, scientific and
technological development or social progress.
The second category includes foreign citizens who make
relatively large direct investments in China.
The third comprises foreigners who have made outstanding
contributions or are of special importance to China, and the fourth
includes foreigners who come to China to be with their
families.
Public security authorities will make the decision on each
application within six months.
Eighty-three-year-old Joan Hinton, who has been working in China
since 1948 and received her certificate of permanent residence in
1986, noted that she has witnessed great changes of China's
entry-exit management.
She said that with permanent residence status, she need not
obtain visas and can enter and leave the country using only her
passport and the alien permanent residence permit.
(China Daily August 24, 2004)