That's the view of a top SAR official who believes that many will be tempted by easier communications and a better standard of living in the mainland.

Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang Ying-yen said in a planned hassle-free future it may be quicker to commute to Tsim Sha Tsui from Guangdong than it does from Sha Tin today.

Fresh from key talks with senior officials across the Pearl River Delta, Tang said by 2020, improved road and rail networks - coupled with smoother immigration - may mean Hong Kong people could be better off living in Guangdong than staying put.

He also believes that there will be no need for home-visit permits, with those on both sides using smart identity cards to travel.

Tang told The Standard in an interview those living as far away as Guangzhou could get to Tsim Sha Tsui in 48 minutes while others in Qianhai, Shenzhen, could reach Hong Kong International Airport in half the time it takes travelers from Central today.

"By then, people will be able to live in Dongguan and work in Sha Tin or Tsim Sha Tsui. It will be as convenient as if you are currently living in Sha Tin, Sheung Shui or Tai Po," he said.

"Most households make only about HK$20,000 a month which will not provide you with a decent quality of life if you reside in Hong Kong but which will certainly provide you with more comfort if you were to live in Lunghua, Shenzhen."

Tang's vision of a slick-moving populace commuting between Hong Kong and Guangdong dovetails with a central government plan for the delta issued earlier this year.

Within 11 years, Tang believes it will only take 15 minutes to Futian in Shenzhen and 20 minutes to Lunghua on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link from Tsim Sha Tsui.

"Perhaps we will not need a home return permit and those in the mainland will not need to have Hong Kong entry permits. Those from both sides may travel with their smart identity cards."

In 2006, there were 33,100 cross- border workers, 16,100 of them lived in the mainland. So far this year, people from Hong Kong have bought 50,000 homes in Shenzhen.

Tang said the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments will also study cross-border issues such as education and medical services.

Tang visited nine cities in the delta - Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Jiangmen - the municipal leaders of which are due in Hong Kong tomorrow for more discussions.

One example of cooperation, Tang said, is the Shenzhen government's desire to jointly develop Qianhai into "a modern service demonstration zone with Hong Kong." He did not specify what activities would take place in this zone.

Both sides have earmarked a one- stop cross-border customs and immigration checkpoint by rail in Qianhai to link Hong Kong and Shenzhen airports.

"It will only take 10 minutes to go from Qianhai to Chek Lap Kok, which is even faster than traveling from Central which takes 23 minutes."

The central government plans high- tech zones for Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou. Some Hong Kong manufacturers see prospects for an eco- park and electroplating industry in Jiangmen.