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LETTERS
Hong Kong
Blues
BY VICTORIA RUDE
The visa policy of
Hong Kong deals
with the requirements
in which a foreign
national wishing to
enter the Hong Kong
Special Administrative
Region must
meet to obtain an
entry permit or visa,
which depending on
the traveller’s nationality,
may be required
to travel to, enter, and
remain in the Hong
Kong Special Administrative
Region.
Visitors from over
145 countries are
permitted visa-free
entry for periods
ranging from 7 to 180
days, to the Hong
Kong Special Administrative
Region for
tourism or certain
business-related
activities.All visitors
must hold a passport
valid for more than 1
month.
Unless having the
right to land or right
of abode in Hong
Kong, nationals of
all countries and
territories require
entry permits or visas
from the Hong Kong
Immigration Department
directly or via
one of the Chinese
diplomatic missions
overseas, to undertake
other activities, such
as study, employment,
or operation
of a business. Under
the one country, two
systems policy, Hong
Kong maintains its
immigration and visa
policy independently
from the rest of
China. Consequently,
entering Hong Kong
from mainland China
or Macau requires
passing through
immigration checkpoints
of mainland
China or Macau.
Whilst Macau residents
have visafree
access for
short visits to Hong
Kong, Mainland
residents must
obtain a Two-way
Permit (EEP) with
the appropriate exit
endorsement from
the Chinese Ministry
of Public Security
before visiting Hong
Kong.
Due to the historical
background of Hong
Kong, immigration
status in Hong Kong
is determined by a
combination of both
nationality and residence
status. Therefore,
even a Chinese
national with the right
of abode in Hong
Kong has a slightly
different status to a
foreign national with
the right of abode in
Hong Kong as well.
Hong Kong
Happiness
BY BRITNAAY BRANCH
Hong Kong has a highly developed
and sophisticated transport
network, encompassing both public
and private transport. Based on Hong
Kong Government’s Travel Characteristics
Survey, over 90 per cent
of the daily journeys are on public
transport, the highest rate in the
world. However, in 2014 the Transport
Advisory Committee, which
advises the Government on transportation
issues, issued a report on the
much worsened congestion problem
in Hong Kong and pointed at the
excessive growth of private cars
during the past 10–15 years.
The Octopus card, a smart electronic
money payment system, was introduced
in September 1997 to provide
an alternative to the traditional
banknotes and coins. Available for
purchase in every station of the Mass
Transit Railway system, the Octopus
card is a non-touch payment system
which allows payment not only for
public transport (such as trains,
buses, trams, ferries and minibuses),
but also at parking meters, convenience
stores, supermarkets, fastfood
restaurants and most vending
machines.
Photo Source: Wikipedia.com
19 Journey’s End - HONG KONG EDITION - June 2017