MovieChat Forums > Wong Gok hak yeh (2004) Discussion > Question About Hong Kong and China

Question About Hong Kong and China

posted 18 years ago by Redhawk2004
3 replies | jump to latest

In the movie, Cecilia Cheung's character Dan Dan states that she can only stay in Hong Kong for a short time, and if she overstays, they'll never let her come back again. The killer Lai Fu has only a day pass. I was under the impression that Hong Kong is fully part of the PRC, so I am curious why passes or visas are needed to visit the city, as if the rest of China is a foreign country. If you are Chinese, do you need to get passes or visas to visit other parts of China, as well?

[–] fongyellowsandyfield 18 years ago

Hong Kong has been part of China again since 1 July 1997, but it is run under the so called "One Country, Two Systems" format.

Chinese travelling/staying between the two places have always been subject to some restrictions, a way of life dating back to 1949/50 when the British were still in Hong Kong and the Communists just took power in the mainland. Although it has always been easier for people to go from Hong Kong to China than the other way round. The restrictions have not been lifted, over 9 years after the unification of Hong Kong with China, due to the huge economic imbalance - there are always too many who want to go/live in Hong Kong from China. Therefore the visa system is still very much in place today.

The Communist Government in Beijing also enjoy the benefit of this arrangement, they never grant visa to known Chinese dissidents from Hong Kong banning them from entering China to cause trouble.

[–] willyinhell 17 years ago

because HK is an special autonomous region

[–] wongsaur 17 years ago

You mean a Special Administrative Region.