New permits open doors to Mainland

August 25, 2024

Embracing opportunities:

Rizwan Ullah says the new permit has been warmly welcomed by ethnic minority groups and that he expects many more people to apply for it.

Exciting plans:

After applying for the new permit immediately on its becoming available, Mrs Hui – a Hong Kong permanent resident who is originally from Vietnam – says she hopes to explore the Mainland with her daughter.

Download Video| Transcript

Voiceover:
Kowloon City District Council member Rizwan Ullah assists individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds in applying for the recently launched Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong & Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens). He helps around 15 applicants each day and says the new permits have been enthusiastically welcomed by the community. 

Kowloon City District Council member Rizwan Ullah:
The enquiry is ongoing everyday. We have reached around 600 individuals (for about one month).

Still a lot of people will apply, and then when they see people posting on their social media (that) they visited Mainland China, then this will again be a push and pull factor.

Voiceover:
Non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents became eligible for the new permits from July 10. Mr Ullah, who is of Pakistani descent, was eager to visit the Mainland himself immediately on the day when he obtained his permit. He and a friend drove to Sheung Shui, took the MTR to Lok Ma Chau station, and then tried out his new permit at Futian Port. His friend shared his excitement.

Mohammad Ilyas:
Before we have this travel card, really we are facing so many difficulties. I personally accompanied my friend, and waited a maximum two hours. 

Voiceover:
Mr Ullah also praised the new permit after using it, saying it enhances his ability to access different opportunities in the Mainland.

Rizwan Ullah:
I no longer need to line up with the foreigners there, because we are different from those foreigners.

We have the local (permanent) identity card, so that we are treated differently with this Mainland travel permit, and this not only brings us convenience (when) we enter but also (means that we can) avoid applying for a visa, and all those lengthy processes like in the past, so it saves our time as well. Now (with) the permit we have five years (of validity period), and it is very convenient. And the third thing, it allows us to travel more and more frequently for research, for visits, for cultural, and even for business purposes.

With this (permit), you can travel to different parts of (Mainland) China easily so that you understand the culture, the festivals and other spectrums of things where it will enhance your understanding of the country – thereby enhancing your awareness and sense of belonging, not only to Hong Kong but to (Mainland) China.

Voiceover:
Mrs Hui, a Hong Kong permanent resident who arrived as an immigrant from Vietnam over a decade ago, immediately applied for the new permit when it became available. 

Mrs Hui (translation):
I currently hold a Vietnamese passport. I usually have to wait half an hour for immigration to Mainland China, which is quite inconvenient, especially during long vacations. I tried to visit my husband’s hometown of Chaoshan during Easter and waited over an hour at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station for the high-speed rail. It was embarrassing because my family and friends had to wait for me.

Voiceover:
After receiving her new permit, Mrs Hui said she is more likely to travel to the Mainland with her family members.

Mrs Hui (translation):
I would like to take my daughter to Beijing, visit the Palace Museum, walk on the Great Wall, and sightsee in Shanghai. I want her to learn more about the country’s development, culture, and history.

From July 10, non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents became eligible for newly launched travel permits, known as Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong & Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens).

Among those who have welcomed the new cards are members of the city’s ethnic minority communities, who say the policy gives them more motivation to visit the Mainland and can enhance their sense of belonging to the country.

Enthusiastic response

Kowloon City District Council member Rizwan Ullah has been assisting individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds in applying for the new travel permits. He calculates that he has helped approximately 600 applicants since the scheme’s launch and typically receives around 15 inquiries per day.

Reflecting on the community’s enthusiastic response to the cards, he said: “Many more people will apply, and when they see others posting on social media about their visits to Mainland China, this will become a push and pull factor.”

Mr Ullah, who is of Pakistani descent, was eager to visit the Mainland himself on the day that he obtained his own permit. He and a friend, Mohammad Ilyas, drove to Sheung Shui and then took the MTR to Lok Ma Chau station, where Mr Ullah tried out his new card.

“Before we had this travel card, we faced many difficulties,” said Mr Ilyas. “I personally accompanied my friend and waited a maximum of two hours.”

For his part, Mr Ullah highlighted that having the permit not only reduces the amount of time he has to queue at boundary crossings but means he no longer has to spend time applying for a visa.

Explaining that the convenience offered by the card has kindled his enthusiasm for travelling to the Mainland, he elaborated that it enhances his access to various opportunities there, whether in relation to research, business, tourism or cultural experiences. He said this can also benefit his understanding of the country and strengthen his sense of belonging to it.

Greater convenience

Mrs Hui, a Hong Kong permanent resident who arrived as an immigrant from Vietnam over a decade ago, immediately applied for the new permit when it became available.

She said travelling to the Mainland as a Vietnamese passport-holder tended to be inconvenient. “I tried to visit my husband’s hometown of Chaoshan during Easter and waited over an hour at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station for the high-speed rail. It was embarrassing because my family and friends had to wait for me.”

After receiving her new permit, Mrs Hui said she is more likely to travel to the Mainland with her family, and hopes to explore the country with her daughter. “I would like to take my daughter to Beijing, visit the Palace Museum, walk on the Great Wall, and sightsee in Shanghai. I want her to learn more about the country’s development, culture, and history.”