On the 23rd, Deng Bingqiang, the Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, responded to questions from members of the Legislative Council by introducing that according to data from the National Immigration Administration, from July to mid October 2024, about 20000 non Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents have been issued Mainland Travel Permits, and 53000 people have entered and exited the country with this permit. Deng Bingqiang stated that according to the understanding of the SAR government, people from all walks of life, including the business and academic sectors, welcome the new measures and believe that they greatly shorten the customs clearance time, fully meeting their needs for business negotiations, academic and cultural exchanges, and tourism in mainland China. Some people also said that the measures will help promote their higher participation in the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. Deng Bingqiang pointed out that the Security Bureau, together with relevant policy bureaus and departments, vigorously promotes the new measures through various means, maintains close communication with relevant departments in mainland China, and launches various measures to ensure the smooth implementation of the arrangement for witnesses to register for the first time at mainland ports and use the certificate to pass customs, including adding more English signs and increasing manpower to provide assistance when necessary. (New Society)