Lawmakers stated in a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday that the current appointment quota for new applications or renewal of the Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macau Residents (commonly known as Home Return Permits) cannot meet the demand of the public. Those who have recently made appointments have to wait until September before getting their permits.

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, responded in a written reply that the number of expired permits held by Hong Kong residents is about one million. And the CTS has adopted measures to facilitate the public in applying for the Permits, including extending the entry permit centers' service hours in Kowloon East and New Territories East.

To alleviate the accumulated applications, Tsang said that CTS is exploring extending the service hours of the remaining three centers and setting up temporary permit renewal centers. He further stated that the government would maintain close liaison with the relevant mainland authorities and CTS to increase facilitation measures.

The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and the five Mainland Offices of the SAR government have also released relevant information regarding the renewal of permits for Hong Kong residents in the mainland through online platforms, Tsang added.