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Multiple Entry Visas for China – not now!!

As reported in Sunday’s SCMP (on the front page just above the big news about Vegemite), the government of China has decided to stop issuing multiple entry visas until October.  Now it seems that you cannot even get a single or double-entry visa at the border and instead have to wait 1-2 days.

This is hugely inconvenient to anyone in Hong Kong who does not have Chinese nationality, many of whom need to travel across the border regularly for work.

Some people will be in the fortunate position of having a visa that doesn’t expire until the end of this year (or later), but there will be a significant number of people who will be suffering serious inconvenience in the coming weeks.

So a new blog (the imaginatively titled China Visa Blog) has been set up by someone who wants to protest against this bizarre decision. 

Personally, I think it’s ridiculous that anyone with a Hong Kong Permanent ID Card even needs to have a visa to travel across the border.  Having to renew it every year (and pay) is bad enough, but withdrawing this facility without any advance warning is just plain stupid.

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4 responses to “Multiple Entry Visas for China – not now!!”

  1. phillip avatar
    phillip

    Not sure if you are aware, but if you apply for an Apec card, you don’t need a china visa.
    You just need your passport. As long as you are a permanent hkid holder, the process is easy
    and cheap HKD427 every 3 years!!!
    You apply for an Apec card from HK immigration.
    Cheers!!

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  2. Chris avatar
    Chris

    That’s an excellent point. I was aware that this was possible, but I was told that it was difficult and expensive, and so I haven’t done anything about it.
    The government website says that:

    A business person residing in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) may apply for an APEC Business Travel Card if he :
    – holds a Hong Kong permanent identity card and a valid national passport;
    – has not previously been denied entry to any of the participating economies;
    – has never been convicted of a criminal offence;
    – must be a bona fide business person who needs to travel frequently on short term visits within the APEC region to fulfil business commitments.
    A bona fide business person is taken to mean a person who is engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities. It does not include entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations.

    In short, I think you need the support of your employer.
    http://www.hktdc.com/vod/apec.htm

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  3. blogger avatar
    blogger

    You need to “take it up with your elected official”.
    You may wish to write to your legislator, or in particular Mr Howard Young who is the FC rep for Tourism. I would urge you to write in a considerate and professional manner free of emotion and blame, as many of the letters will probably be forwarded to others in support of a reversal.
    The list of legislators can be found here:
    http://www.legco.gov.hk/general/english/members/yr04-08/members.htm
    Furthermore, you may also write to our CE, Mr. Donald TSANG ceo@ceo.gov.hk
    I would also urge you to mention the ambiguous statements made in the Foreign Ministry Office website http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/default.htm and also the recorded phone service.
    You may wish to mention that it is damaging for businesses both sides of the border.

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  4. anon avatar
    anon

    china sucks

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