Mainland limits HK visits by Shenzhen residents

Travel industry experts warn there won't be enough tourists from other sources to make up for the loss from declining mainland tourist arrivals if some Hong Kong people's senseless and hostile attitude toward mainland visitors continues. [Photo by Edmond Tang / China Daily]

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Before the change, more than 2.2 million Shenzhen permanent residents enjoyed unlimited visits to their neighboring city, which only costs a 100 yuan ($16) entry fee.

Zhao Guang, a bank employee in Shenzhen, said that he won’t be affected by the revised regulation as he doesn't go to Hong Kong frequently and one visit a week is enough for him.

But for Xie Songhui, an IT engineer who sometimes travels to Hong Kong on business, the new regulation is definitely a restriction.

"The one visit limit will have to be taken into account when the company arranges new business trips," he said, "We can no longer go to Hong Kong any time we want."

Shenzhen residents are allowed to apply for multiple trips to Hong Kong if they need to travel for regular business or family visits. They have to apply for such permits by submitting relevant documents to the exit-entry authority for approval, according to the administration.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said on Monday that the policy revision comes after proposals from Hong Kong to combat smugglers who buy goods in huge quantity from Hong Kong and sell for a profit in the mainland.

He also said that the new travel policy is not contradictory to Hong Kong's willingness to develop its tourism industry. A series of measures will be carried out in a short term to attract more tourists from around the world to Hong Kong, he said.