Chongqing - Recently, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and National Healthcare Security Administration issued the Interim Measures for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Residents to Join the Social Insurance Plan in Mainland China, which will take effect on January 1, 2020. Based on the requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the Interim Measures specify the regulations for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents to join the social insurance system on the mainland. They will facilitate Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents to work and live in mainland China and ensure their social insurance rights.

The Interim Measures comprises 15 articles, mainly involving:

1) Eligible persons. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents who work or live (without work) on the mainland are incorporated into the applicable scope.

2) Applicable insurance types. The Interim Measures specifies that the five basic social insurance types shall cover hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents who work on the mainland. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents who live without work on the mainland are entitled to join the basic endowment insurance for urban and rural residents and medical insurance as per regulations at the place of residence.

3) Benefits. The Interim Measures states that Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents who have joined the social insurance system are entitled to social insurance benefits by law.

4) Handling procedures. The Interim Measures provides that Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents will go through the same application procedures for social insurance as their mainland counterparts.

5) Dual payment issues. The Interim Measures stipulates that a Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan resident who has joined the local social insurance system with a retained social insurance individual account can apply not to join the old-age insurance and unemployment insurance on the mainland with a certification issued by relevant authorized institutions.

6) Policy alignment. The Interim Measures specifies that specific arrangements of the mainland and institutions concerned in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan will be handled following

relevant rules.

The MOHRSS and NHSA will put effort into publicizing and explaining the Interim Measures. They will see to it that the measures are implemented, the handling services are improved, and that the policy exerts an active effect, thus benefiting Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents.