Carrying iphones & ipads into China

 Travel Tips  4 Responses »
Nov 132010
 

I was crossing the border to Shenzhen from Hong Kong at Huanggang the other day, and was standing behind the customs area, waiting for friends. A foreigner was walking through the customs carrying with him a box, the package of which suggests that it contained an ipad. He was stopped by the customs officers and it was obvious that he ran into trouble by carrying the gadget with him. He seemed to be arguing with the officers and gradually lost temper. No doubt he was requested to give tax on his ipad.

I later read reports that people carrying iphones 4 or ipads into China will be taxed RMB 1,000 (value estimated to be RMB 5,000 so 20% tax is RMB 1,000 ). Any items, valued over RMB 5,000, even if they are for self-use, have to be taxed, according to the reports. If you don’t want to be taxed, you can place the items with the customs and take them back when you leave China. But then you may need to pay a custody fee as well.

The latest news is that Chinese Customs has publicly defened its practice, saying that a tax of RMB 1000 on ipads is justified, which is in accordance with WTO rules and international practice. So be prepared to be taxed if you an ipad or a new iphone into China.

 Posted by Anna at 10:20 pm

Guilty of splashing Champagne

 Hong Kong As It Is  2 Responses »
Oct 152010
 

the group of protesters on the way to the Central Government Liasion Office in Western District

A group of Hong Kong protestors marched to the Central Government Liaison Office last Sunday (10 October) to demand the release of the newly named Nobel Peace Prize Winner Liu Xiaobo jailed by the Chinese government for his fight for democracy and freedom of speech. They also opened Champagne bottles and ate Norwegian Salmon in front of the Office in celebration of Liu being awarded the prize.

One of the protesters named Ip accidentally splashed some Champagne onto a security guard of the Office. She was arrested by the police for common assault, and was later granted bail in the sum of HK$500 and told to report to police next month.

Can you believe this?

It is certainly a joke, and a shame on the Hong Kong police, which has degraded itself to be a political tool, currying favor with the Central Government. The fact is, incidents like this are hardly alone. Protesters protesting in front of the Central Government Liaison Office are often arrested and prosecuted.

The freedom long enjoyed by the city’s people is under attack.

 Posted by Anna at 11:37 pm

Liu Xiaobo

 China As It Is  1 Response »
Oct 112010
 

It was just announced that Liu Xiaobo has received the Nobel Peace Prize 2010. Great news indeed – the world has not bowed to China and lived up to the common values of human mankind.

Liu’s reaction to it? “I dedicate the prize to those having died in the June 4 event.” And then he shed his tears, according to his wife Liu Xia who informed him about the news. It is a reaction that I would have expected from Liu, who keeps a low profile in his resilient fight for freedom of speech and democracy in China.

I wrote this post about Liu and his wife on 26 December 2009, and would like to copy here as my token of tribute to Liu:
 
“China’ most prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo was sentenced by the court to 11 years in jail on Christmas Day.

This is the fourth time he has been imprisoned because of his political position and his writings. He was researching in the US while the student democratic movement broke out in China in 1989. He rushed back to China and gave support to the students. He was jailed afterwards by the Chinese government.

But that marked only the first sentencing he, as a dissident, received of a series to follow. Each time he was released, he kept on writing and speaking his mind about how to make China a better and democratic country, and each time he was sentenced to imprisonment or a labour camp.

How Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, supports him is touching. She married him when he was in the labour camp. She sent him books when he was in prison so that he knew what her thoughts were and it was a way of communication between them, Liu Xia said. They also wrote poems to each other.

After the latest jail sentence was announced, Liu Xia told reporters in a clam voice: “If he (Liu Xiaobo) can persevere in the face of the ordeal, so can I.” Liu will be over 60 years old when he is released, she said.

She has had her head shaved. She is such a strong and steel-willed woman, just like her husband. “

 Posted by Anna at 7:24 pm

Low cost airline for Shanghai-HK route

 Transport, Travel Tips  3 Responses »
Sep 272010
 
Mainland China’s low cost airline Spring Air will launch its service between Hong Kong and Shanghai starting 28 September. If you want to find cheap tickets for the route as well as China’s domestic flights, check out its website (tickets.china-sss.com).

To mark the new service, the airline offers the unbeatable price of HK$199 (US$26) for a one-way ticket between Hong Kong and Shanghai from now until end of October. But the discount tickets are said to be all sold out.
 Posted by Anna at 10:35 pm

3-way transport: Hong Kong Airport to Shenzhen

 HK-Shenzhen Transport  1 Response »
Sep 262010
 

There are three transport options for going from Hong Kong airport to Shenzhen.

1. By ferry
Please see my previous post here.

2. By bus to Huanggang
There is bus service to Huanggang from the Coach Station in Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 2. Huanggang is one of the important border crossings between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. At Huanggang, you can simply take a taxi to your destination in Shenzhen. For more details, check out here.

3. By bus and MTR to Lowu
If you want to go from Hong Kong International Airport to Lowu, another important border crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, you can take the airport bus No A43 to get off at Sheung Shui Railway Station stop and transfer to MTR train. Sheung Shui MTR station is only one stop away from Lowu MTR station, from where you will go through the immigration and customs clearing. See my previous post here.

 Posted by Anna at 11:07 am  Tagged with: ,
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