Do I need to go through any formalities to go to Hong Kong and Macau?

You need a Hong Kong and Macao Pass to go to Hong Kong and Macao.

Mainland residents who meet any of the following conditions may apply to the exit-entry administration department of the public security organ at or above the county level where their permanent residence is located for a pass to Hong Kong and Macao: the mainland spouse of a person who has settled in Hong Kong or Macao and their accompanying children under the age of 18 need to go to Hong Kong or Macao for family reunion; Children of China nationality born to China citizens among Hong Kong and Macao residents in the Mainland, and at the time of their birth, one or both parents have obtained permanent resident status in Hong Kong or Macao according to law and need to settle in Hong Kong or Macao; Under the age of 18, need to take refuge in parents who have settled in Hong Kong or Macao; Parents who are over 18 years old but under 6 years old, have settled in Hong Kong or Macao and have no children in Hong Kong or Macao are all over 6 years old and need their care; Those who are over 6 years old and have no children in the Mainland and need to take refuge in children over 18 years old who have settled in Hong Kong or Macao; Special circumstances need to go to Hong Kong or Macao to settle down.

You need to prepare the following materials to apply for the Hong Kong and Macao Pass:

Original and photocopy of your ID card. The ID card needs to be copied on both sides.

the original and photocopy of the household registration book. The household registration book needs to copy the home page and the page where the applicant is located.

recent two-inch bareheaded photos. The photos should have a light blue background, with a size of 2 inches, and the number depends on the requirements of the local exit-entry administration department.

fill in the complete application form for China citizens going abroad (territory) for personal reasons.

to sum up, the entry-exit permit to and from Hong Kong and Macao, commonly known as the two-way permit, is issued by the Exit-Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China (that is, the National Immigration Administration, one institution with two brands). Travel documents issued to China mainland residents for private travel to and from Hong Kong or Macao, visiting relatives, engaging in business, training, employment, study abroad and other non-official activities.

Legal basis:

Law of the People's Republic of China on Exit and Entry Administration

Article 1

Citizens of China who travel between the mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region, and citizens of China who travel between the mainland and the Taiwan Province region shall apply for pass certificates according to law and abide by the relevant provisions of this law. Specific management measures shall be formulated by the State Council.