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Holders of Hong Kong Identity Cards with permission to stay unconditionally may apply for public rental housing, provided they satisfy the 7 year residence rule and other eligibility criteria relating to income and property ownership. Those who have not yet fulfilled the residence rule but satisfy other eligibility criteria may apply and be placed on the Waiting List. They will be allocated flats only when they have fulfilled the residence rule and when their turn comes.
As regards the purchase of subsidised home ownership flats, holders of Hong Kong Identity Cards are excluded.
Exception applies if the holder is a member of a household, the majority of whom are permanent residents of Hong Kong. In this case, he may join other household members in the allocation of a public rental flat, or he may join the others in the purchase of a subsidised home ownership flat in the usual way.
Holders of Hong Kong Identity Cards with conditional stay (such as persons on employment contract or overseas students) are not eligible for both types of public housing.
Medical and Health Services & Welfare Services
Holders of all categories of Hong Kong Identity Cards are entitled to receive the same public healthcare and welfare services, subject to their satisfying the eligibility criteria for different types of services.
Furthermore, assistance available under schemes to provide financial assistance to victims of road traffic accidents, crimes of violence or of natural and other disasters, is granted to the victims, including visitors, who are legally in Hong Kong.
Education
Children holding a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or a Hong Kong Identity Card which does not bear the symbol "C" (for conditional stay) are eligible for admission to public sector schools. Children holding a Hong Kong Identity Card which bears the symbol "C" are also eligible for admission to public sector schools, provided that they have a valid travel document confirming that they are not subject to any condition of stay other than a limit of stay, and that the limit of stay has not expired.
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