Why he begs to go to Hong Kong these days
Last summer a new bridge connecting Shenzhen and Hong Kong opened up. This has created new, much-less-expensive and faster way to get into Kowloon. Previously, we would take the ferry from Shekou, at 225 RMB each way for the two of us. Now, for less than that we have a round-trip on an air conditioned bus.The bus stops at a mall called Elements. It is a high-concept, high-end mall but it has a fantastic grocery called Three-Sixty. Three-Sixty is mostly imported organic things, from Amy's brand food to Kiss My Face soaps, but they also have products that are hard to find in mainland China, like Swiffer Dusters and Ziploc freezer bags. For Myles, though, his favorite part is the huge chocolate fountain. He gets a skewer of three marshmallows for HK$15 and as much chocolate as he can get on himself---I mean the marshmallows.
Comments
Questions:
What does 15RMB translate to?
Is it easier for you to go back and forth across the bridge than a local?
15 RMB=$2.14
It is much, much easier for me to cross the boarder at any given time than the average local Chinese person. We all have a residence visa, which allows us unlimited entries into and exits from China. In our first several months here, back in 2006, Myles and I only had limited entry tourist permits. Once we came over again in 2007 for the extended period of time we were able to get residence permits. Business people until recently could get multiple-entry visas, , but these have been eliminated until (possibly) after the Olympics.
The average Chinese person cannot as easliy travel back and forth between China and Hong Kong. While I don't need a visa to enter Hong Kong, a PRC citizen does. Hong Kong does not want to be flooded with PRC citizens who are there illegally. To get a visa, a PRC citizen needs to apply for it and show the reason they need it. Acceptible reasons include medical care, travelling out of Hong Kong to go somewhere else, or as part of a tour group to Hong Kong. I have Chinese friends that go frequently, having family in Hong Kong, and just renew their visas as needed. Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but I think in the visa application the PRC citizen has to prove they have some reason to return to China, like a job, and I also think Hukou has something to do with getting their visas. I have one friend that went back to her hometown in Jiangxi to apply for a Visa so she could go to Hong Kong with her boyfriend, but that could have been just to get her passport, too.
Of course, this was all for average Chinese person. Of course, people that work in Hong Kong or have business that takes them to Hong Kong have a much easier time getting their visas.