Non-Chinese residents living in Hong Kong and Macau will find it easier to travel to mainland China following Beijing's relaxation of visa regulations, aimed at further integrating these semi-autonomous regions into national development initiatives.

Long-term residents, who are not Chinese nationals, will now have the opportunity to apply for a five-year permit to enter mainland China, effective from 10th July, as announced by China’s National Immigration Administration on Monday.  

This permit allows them to make multiple entries into the mainland, with each visit lasting up to 90 days.

Chinese authorities have stated that the policy aims to facilitate the increasing number of non-Chinese visitors from Hong Kong and Macau, both for business and leisure activities. The announcement, made on the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty, is also intended to enhance the former British colony's role as a prominent business centre.

“We firmly believe that international talent of Hong Kong companies can enjoy the long-awaited clearance convenience for northbound travel with this card,” said Chief Executive John Lee in a statement.

The eased travel regulations will be beneficial for foreign residents in Hong Kong and Macau who do not hold passports from one of several dozen countries eligible for visa-free entry to China.

The new five-year visa is intended for permanent residents, specifically non-Chinese citizens who have resided continuously in Hong Kong or Macau for at least seven years.

Over the past year, China has extended visa-free travel privileges to over a dozen countries, including France, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia, in an effort to stimulate inbound tourism.

Shenzhen, located in southern China and bordering Hong Kong, has emerged as a popular destination for residents of the Asian financial hub due to its expanding and affordable shopping and dining choices, Bloomberg reports.

The evolving cross-border lifestyle has the potential to integrate the city into China's Greater Bay Area economic cluster. However, Hong Kong restaurants and retailers have expressed concerns about losing business to their counterparts in mainland China.