China Hong Kong SAR: News and Images

[StarCraft_ZT]

It's a victory of HK's judiciary system as well, which continues to demonstrate it's ability in defending human rights and lawful freedom of individuals, no matter what are their nationalities. Hats off to HK!

A key take-away for Chinese is that China should also establish rules to protect the rights of foreign workers here, as we are seeing more of them going to into the country. English-speaking Christian Filipino maids (and Indonesian to a lesser extent) are getting more and more popular in China, just in Shanghai alone, the market is estimated to exceed HK, Singapore or Taiwan, both in quantity and salary level. However due to the lack of relevant law/policy here a lot of them work under tourist visa, and hence fall outside the radar of Labor/Tax department, I hope China government look into this and do something asap.

沪人大代表建议引进“菲佣” 菲佣能提升中国家政服务业水平？

Interesting.

 

[NarThoD]

New Indonesia administration is currenty planning to stop sending migrant workers abroad. But we can't force them all suddenly back home as they will be an unemployment now. By growing economy, more job oppurtunities will open and slowly but surely we're taking them home and enjoy developement with them

Although our gov vows to not choose to become a migrant workers, many Indonesians especially who are unemployed are seeking fast way and halal to earn living.

Most of Indonesian migrant workers overseas receive Rp. 22 million ($2000) for a month.
In Japan they receive 200 thousands Yen (20 million rupiahs/$1800-2000)
In Taiwan is 19.047 Won (6 million rupiah/$500)
In Africa and Middle east the pay is USD500-USD1.200

It's quite a money for just taking care house, cleaning, etc.

Indonesia has already signed MoU with Malaysia and Singapore in 2009 regarding to protect foreign worker rights

 

[Anees]

Hong Kong (CNN)"Go back home!"

"Locusts! You're not welcome here!"

These were just some of the insults hurled at Chinese shoppers Sunday as hundreds of Hong Kongers surged through through the old neighborhood of Yuen Long, an area close to the city's border with China.

It was the latest in a series of angry protests that have seen brawls erupt in humdrum shopping malls, with demonstrators singling out the "parallel traders" who crowd into Hong Kong to purchase tax-free products and then resell them for a profit back in China.

"I've grown up here, and ever since a lot of the Chinese started coming into Hong Kong, things have changed," said Suen, a law student who only gave her surname.

Clad in a mask to protect against police wielding pepper spray, she took part in the protest with her mother.

Local residents say the traders are not only disturbing the peace, but are driving up the price of food, rent, and gutting local neighborhoods of their character - the city has become a blur of jewelers, pharmacies and other businesses that cater primarily to Chinese shoppers.

"Previously there were a lot of indigenous places like restaurants, but all of them have closed," said Suen, standing across from a store selling baby milk powder - the top item on many Chinese tourists' shopping lists.

"It's very difficult to be very welcoming."



Growing tensions


Tensions have long been simmering between Hong Kong and the motherland, and parallel trading is just one of the thorny issues brought about by the influx of mainland Chinese to the city.

A series of food scandals -- most notably in 2008 when melamine-tainted milk powder caused infant deaths across China -- led to shortages of baby milk formula in Hong Kong as Chinese flocked to buy up the city's supplies.

The ensuing uproar led the government to introduce a law limiting the purchase to two tins per traveler leaving the city.

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Why don't Hong Kong & China get along? 02:16
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Last year, 31 million Chinese visitors traveled to Hong Kong, accounting for 78% of all tourists, according to the government. But the numbers hide that the visitors aren't all sightseeing tourists in the traditional sense.

There are the day-trippers, wheeling suitcases and carting boxes of goods and supplies across the border, but there is also an increasing number of wealthy mainland Chinese who are buying up luxury properties, and visit the city on a regular basis.

According to the Global Property Guide, developers say as much as 40% of new home buyers are from China.

Residents blame them for causing a hike in real estate prices in what reports say is already themost expensive property market in the world.

Both the Chinese and Hong Kong government have encouraged mainland tourists to visit the city and boost the local economy.

Relaxed restrictions have made it easy for Chinese residents to get a hold of individual multiple-entry permits -- some mainlanders enter hundreds of times a year on a single pass.

This has infuriated protestors, particularly the younger generation, who want the government to scrap the permits.

In a speech last Tuesday, the city's pro-Beijing leader C.Y. Leung announced that his government would examine restricting mainland visitors, acknowledging the pressure the crowds have had on the everyday lives of Hong Kong residents.

But the permit controversy is just one symptom of a deeper conflict.



A question of identity


When it comes down to it, it's simple: Many Hong Kongers just don't feel very Chinese.

According to a recent survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the number of Hong Kong residents identifying primarily as "Chinese" has dipped to an all-time low since the former British colony was returned to Chinese control in 1997.

The majority of respondents said they were "Hong Kongers first, and also Chinese."

Earlier in 2012, plans to add Chinese civic education into the Hong Kong public school curriculum caused an uproar, resulting in a city-wide protest with locals claiming it would "brainwash" school children with pro-mainland propaganda.

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On China: Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement 01:34
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Hong Kong, ruled under China's principle of "One country, two systems," means the city is a officially part of China, but is allowed rights and freedoms unseen in other Chinese cities.

But there's one key privilege Beijing has refused to grant to Hong Kong: Free and open elections for their own leader.

Frustrated Hong Kongers have tried everything to demand greater voting rights, from hunger strikes to massive street occupations, with no luck.

That's why people in Hong Kong feel an increasing sense of resentment and helplessness when it comes to solving the complex, growing rift between their city and mainland China.

A small but growing minority of disgruntled activists go as far as to say Hong Kong should not belong to China at all.

"We Hong Kong people have our own culture, we have our own currency, we have all the requirements to build a country." said Julian Li, a member of a radical pro-Hong Kong group.

"For decades we have been fighting against civic rights, democracy. However, no matter how much we have been working, it's like we're begging for something that will never happen."



Can't we all just get along?


Many mainland Chinese are bewildered by the anger directed at them.

"It's normal for people to spend money and shop here, why are they protesting?" said a Chinese tourist waiting at a bus stop to get away from the angry crowds.

She said her suitcase was loaded with make-up and clothing that is much cheaper to buy in Hong Kong than across the border in her hometown of Zhuhai.

So long, Hong Kong! Chinese tourists seek new sites 02:10
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"There's definitely an element of discrimination against mainlanders here. I'm not saying everyone is like that in Hong Kong, but there are certain people who are very prejudiced," she added.

Another Chinese resident who makes weekly visits to relatives in the city was sitting on a curb away from the ruckus. She said her friends have considered boycotting Hong Kong altogether.

"My friends on WeChat say, don't come to Hong Kong, let's burn our travel permits," she said as she thumbed through the receipts of her latest purchases.

"We should all just be more considerate and tolerant of each other, we're just here to shop. Let's just be happy," she said.

READ: Hong Kong's teen activists vow to return to the streets

Hong Kong to Chinese shoppers: 'Go home' - CNN.com

 

[black-hawk_101]

It would be good for China to make Hong Kong a separate country.

 

[Sanchez]

It would be good for China to make Hong Kong a separate country.

After 50 years since 1997 Hongkong will be ruled under the same Chinese law. Those few "bananas" could move to UK because they are British passport holders.

Hongkong is totally dependent on us for fresh water, food and electricity. How come it can be another country?

 

[black-hawk_101]

After 50 years since 1997 Hongkong will be ruled under the same Chinese law. Those few "bananas" could move to UK because they are British passport holders.

Hongkong is totally dependent on us for fresh water, food and electricity. How come it can be another country?

They can make on their own, Food can easily be imported from China and water too. Electricity let the EU or USA step in with Nuclear option.

 

[Sanchez]

They can make on their own, Food can easily be imported from China and water too. Electricity let the EU or USA step in with Nuclear option.

You know too little about hongkong....keep dreaming

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

They can make on their own, Food can easily be imported from China and water too. Electricity let the EU or USA step in with Nuclear option.

They are a tiny island with some of the highest population density, and without China's supply, it will become inhabitable within a week.

 

[Keel]

HK independance is an immediate death certificate for the city
As long as the dissidents agree to leave, there is no issue with China whatsoever!

Let those people live in an island in the Pacific somewhere and continue their lives and to have their own law, governance and statehood there. Just dont create troubles in our doorstep where they are consistently proving their worth to their masters for paychecks

Chinese Red Lacquer and Decorated Fall-Front Bureau on Stand.

 

[TheMatador]

Now Xi Jinping will crack down on the Hong Kong dissidents. Put them in labor camps until they become good communists.

 

[Khalid Newazi]

Let me guess, ultra-nationalists.

 

[Tom99]

It would be good for China to make Hong Kong a separate country.

Hong Kong and China have benefited each other a lot under the 1-country-2 system governence. Vast majority of the Hong Kong people knows and understand benefits. And the economic growth the mainland chinese bring to Hong Kong can't be underestimated. When HK was under the threat of economic crisis , it was the power spending by these chinese tourists have helped HK avoid any down turns. However, as with many countries, there are racist , bigots that likes to discriminate other people(even though in this case both people are of the same race but the actions are pretty much the same). These few non mainstream masked protestors that screams at and threatened these chinese tourists will not in any way possible in changing the relationship between HK and China.

Now Xi Jinping will crack down on the Hong Kong dissidents. Put them in labor camps until they become good communists.

I don't think Xi Jinping or China would every do something like that these days. However, China can stop them from coming into mainland and teach these chinese tourists to call for police when they are threatened by these so-call protestors and let the HK laws deal with them.

 

[JF-17-PAF]

They forgot that are they also Chinese.

 

[areal]

it's only about a small number of people who have UK passports, hired by foreign intelligence (we know who they are, but not discover their identities at this time), destroy the harmony relation between mainland of China and Hong Kong.

 

[Keel]

it's only about a small number of people who have UK passports, hired by foreign intelligence (we know who they are, but not discover their identities at this time), destroy the harmony relation between mainland of China and Hong Kong.

These losers can do the litmus tests by presenting their permits / passports for entry into China
仁者得仁 The immigration officers will serve them well