Thanks, but No Thanks

Are you a Hong Kong "special talent" who wants residency in Beijing?

Are you interested in settling permanently in the mainland?

The Chinese government is keen to attract Hong Kong people to this sweet opportunity from March 1. Applicants considered "special talents" and their families from Hong Kong and Macau could not only get permanent residency but also Beijing household registration, or hukou.

That would definitely make you a bona fide mainlander.

Foreign "high-level talents", "innovative and entrepreneurial talents", and Hong Kong and Macau "high-level talents" who hold permanent residency or work residents permits, could also bring foreign domestic helpers to the capital.

Is that really a big bonus?

"Special talents" typically refers to senior managers and professionals with significant experience in hi-tech industries.

However, when asked about this latest development geared towards Hong Kong people in Beijing, some were not impressed.

"I am here because Beijing offers better job opportunities. Permanent residency is not a significant factor to make me stay," says George Yue Hong-chu, who has worked in Beijing in technology and operations management for eight years.

Yue has no plans to stay long term because it was difficult for him to integrate into the local culture, and pollution was another factor.

"Permanent residency may offer some benefits in medical and other areas, but these are not enough to attract me to stay for a very long time," he said.

An immigration consultant said Hong Kong senior executives didn't find local medical or educational services attractive, because most preferred international schools, hospitals and clinics.

But, if Hong Kong people did obtain hukou on the mainland, it would definitely help them enter industries that were previously restricted, or some people may find it attractive.

Talk about getting brownie points...

China Tries to Entice Foreigners

Wanna live in China? The government is making it easier to get residency

It's interesting the Chinese government is easing its green card requirements so that more foreigners can be eligible to live and work on the mainland. But is anyone biting?

The State Council issued a directive on Thursday, stating that foreigners working in a greater range of areas would be able to apply for permanent residency, but did not specify which ones.

"In the past three decades, China focused on attracting foreign capital, and in the three decades ahead, it should shift to foreign talent," said Wang Huiyao, director of the Centre for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based think tank.

Perhaps air quality isn't really attracting expats to China...

Up until last June, only foreigners who worked in government departments or laboratories involved in "key national projects" could apply for permanent residency. Then the rule was later relaxed to include researchers at more institutes, including those with international funding.

While a 2010 national census says there were about 600,000 foreigners living in the mainland, Wang estimates about 6,000 to 7,000 foreigners have actually acquired permanent residency.

However, as someone who has lived in Beijing for three years, it's hard to understand why foreigners would want to have permanent residency in China, when the government creates such an aggressive stance against them, blaming them for the country's social ills and jealousy of the success of foreign brands.

And then coupled with the horrific air quality in major cities, particularly Beijing and Shanghai, and questionable food safety, why would anyone want to live there long-term?

Just sayin'...