[dot.zen]

Originally Posted by PDLM

Not true. A Hong Kong Permanent Resident with any passport is eligible. (See The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - Immigration Department ) Granted that still excludes the larger number of non-permanent residents.

Cool, I didn't know that. It could help quite a few people out given the current circumstances, but will it last?
Will the PRC government start blocking the APEC card? That would be my excuse to move to Tokyo
Will the visa restrictions still be in place by the time you get the card? Approval from the PRC government for the APEC card can take up to a year (it took 9 months for mine!).
Will this mess all just go away after the games?

dot.zen

[PDLM]

This just reported by Spike:

this info just received from my travel agent:

China domestic fare increase
For any China domestic ticket issued outside of China, prices will increase on April 19 (Saturday) for travel date on or after May 10, 2008.
The percentage increases as advised are listed below:
Economy class : increase 300%
Business class : increase 130%
First class : increase 150%

[Crocodile]

Originally Posted by dot.zen

...... Approval from the PRC government for the APEC card can take up to a year (it took 9 months for mine!).
Will this mess all just go away after the games?

dot.zen

My APEC card took about 10 weeks. The PRC was the slowest - it was the only one i was waiting for for about half that time. I have NEVER heard of anyones taking nine months.

[ZhenYa]

Originally Posted by PDLM

This just reported by Spike:

Does it affect flights from HK to China as well?

Is this because of Olympics Games?

[PDLM]

No - tickets issued in Hong Kong were already substantially more expensive than those issued in China. Many people took ferries to Shenzhen Airport to fly to other cities from there because of this. That will now only make sense if you have a way of buying your ticket from an agency within mainland China.

[Goloh]

Just one note about APEC cards, as these don't seem to be well-understood. As someone else mentioned, anyone of any nationality with PR in HK can apply. Some back-up documents are needed. Then HK Immigration sends the application around to the many "Participating Economies" for pre-approval (!). Some of them reply right away. Some never do. Applicant can check status online.

One country, Malaysia, rejected me immediately. I sat in the consulate's office for hours, literally, while trying to find out why. Finally they said it was because I had not applied in Malaysia. They provided a web link for me to check, and it became clear right away that each "participating economy" follows different rules. All other economies except one finally approved but it took nearly a year, by which time my passport was nearly ready to expire; and you cannot transfer the card over to a new passport without more fees.

But here is the important point to note: you can apply for, and get, the APEC card no matter how many of those "economies" have approved you, but it will only be good in the locations that approved it. So if you have lots of time left on your passport, and only want to use it to get into China, you don't need to think about the other countries.

Hope that helps. BTW in the past whenever I've walked through to Shenzhen there has been no immigration official at the APEC kiosk on the PRC side.

[drumbrake]

Originally Posted by PDLM

No - tickets issued in Hong Kong were already substantially more expensive than those issued in China. Many people took ferries to Shenzhen Airport to fly to other cities from there because of this. That will now only make sense if you have a way of buying your ticket from an agency within mainland China.

Book online using elong.net , ctrip.com , 9588.com or others.

[hktraveller]

I was at Zhuahi today and because I was not in a hurry, decided to check out the visa office. The short term visa to Zhuahi SEZ (I believe it is good for 3 days, but I didn't ask) is still available for German passport holders. The lady was very friendly and gave me a phone number to check if things have changed at the time I need it.

I won't publish this number for 2 reasons:
1. if too many people call thay will not answer the phone anymore.
2. Most of them don't speak English, so ther is no point to call if you don't have someone to speak Chinese.

If in urgent need, PM me and I will give you the number. Short term visas are not available for people from the 33 countries of the infamous list.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by hktraveller

Short term visas are not available for people from the 33 countries of the infamous list.

Regardless of whether they are resident or permanent resident in Hong Kong? I thought from previous statements from the Chinese authorities that at least Permanent Residents of Hong Kong, and perhaps residents (HKID holders) could still get these visas.

If residents can't then who will the tai-tais take to Shenzhen to carry their shopping?

[hktraveller]

Originally Posted by PDLM

Regardless of whether they are resident or permanent resident in Hong Kong? I thought from previous statements from the Chinese authorities that at least Permanent Residents of Hong Kong, and perhaps residents (HKID holders) could still get these visas.

If residents can't then who will the tai-tais take to Shenzhen to carry their shopping?

I was talking about the Zhuhai border. I suggest that someone who speaks Chinese PMs me for the number of the Luo Hu visa issuing counter and calls them from time to time to keep the forum updated on the results.