‘We are all Chinese!’ Mainland Chinese express anger over H.K. curbs

Living and working just a few hundred metres from Hong Kong, residents of neighbouring Chinese boomtown Shenzhen are infuriated by new restrictions on travel to the former British colony. Nearly two decades after the territory was reunited with the mainland under a “one country, two systems” system, the model is straining at both ends, with Hong Kongers taking to the streets to demand greater democracy, and mainlanders visiting in their millions. The influx has raised tensions in Hong Kong, prompting protests by residents hostile to Beijing’s mounting influence and the tide of mainland consumers snapping up the territory’s supplies of baby milk powder, iPhones and hospital beds.

No matter if we are mainlanders or Hong Kongers, we are all Chinese. If we have documents to show that, we should be able to travel freely.

40-year-old Shenzhen resident surnamed Wu

Earlier this month, Beijing responded by halting permits that had let Shenzhen residents make unlimited trips to Hong Kong, restricting them instead to one visit per week. Authorities said the move was made at Hong Kong’s request, and Shenzhen residents are resentful. Mainlander visits to Hong Kong - population 7.3 million - have more than doubled in the past five years, according to Hong Kong’s census department, from 22.7 million in 2010 to 47.2 million last year.

I and many others will do our level best to make sure this is passed.

Hong Kong’s first leader under Chinese rule, Tung Chee-hwa

Asia-Pacific China