What does it mean to apply for settlement in Hong Kong?

The publicity aims at ensuring the transparency and fairness of Hong Kong's application for settlement and preventing illegal applicants from obtaining the right of abode through improper means. According to the Ministry of Public Security's Regulations on the Administration of Examination and Approval for Mainland Residents to Settle in Hong Kong and Macao, applying for settlement publicity is a procedure in the entry and exit policy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. When applying for settlement in Hong Kong, applicants need to submit application materials and conduct preliminary examination. If approved, the applicant needs to accept a 28-day publicity period. During the publicity period, the applicant's personal information will be publicized on the bulletin board designated by the government or other public places for public inquiry.