In 1999, the United Kingdom returned Hong Kong to China.  It is still very different from China as Hong Kong is a SAR or Special Administration Region.  Close by Macau is the same thing, but it was part of the Portuguese empire.  Last week I posted a video on the history of Hong Kong.

When you visit Hong Kong from the the US, Europe, Australia, Canada and New Zealand you don’t need a visa to enter Hong Kong for stays of 90 days or 180 days if you are a UK national.  When you visit China you also need a visa as well as your passport.  Mary Ann and I needed business visas with requires an invitation by our Chinese partners.  Those visas last 10 years.  If you are going to China for vacation, you need a different visa.

Right next to Hong Kong is the bigger city of Shenzhen.  They have a new bullet train that goes from Guangzhou, through Shenzhen, to Hong Kong.  A 20 minute ride from Shenzhen to Hong Kong in first class is not a shabby way to go!  The trains were brand new so it had a nice small cabin with seats that stretched out nicely.

When we arrived in Hong Kong, we needed to clear customs twice leaving mainland China and into Hong Kong.  It isn’t a different country remember.  After that we needed a taxi to our hotel.  Hong Kong’s currency is the Hong Kong dollar, but the taxi’s took some of our remaining Chinese Renminbi or Yuan at equal value.

As I mentioned, look for last week’s blog on the history of Hong Kong.  I will also have a travel tip soon on the hoops you have to go through to get a visa to China.

Tim

About Michigan Global Trade LLC:

Removing the Fear of Importing

Let us be your eyes and ears on the ground in China and around the world to manage the suppliers, production, logistics and quality control. We keep you informed and help with:

• Finding the product, you need,
• Visiting the factory to assure it meets your needs,
• Quality checking the order to make sure it meets your specification,
• Overseeing the container to the dock, so you know it’s ready to go,
• Oversee customs clearance and delivery to your door,
• Provide updates via email throughout the process,
• We answer our phones, when you call.

Our partners  have worked together for over ten years and understand how to successfully procure materials internationally for most markets. We have partners in the USA, Australia, United Kingdom with sourcing and production facilities in China helping you buy from China, India and Vietnam.  We work very hard to locate or produce a product, manage quality control, and get it to you anywhere in the world quickly and within your budget.

Communication:

We streamline communication by having a US office contact to best manage  time zone differences and communication. We are available to talk during office hours or any time you need us.

Products and Sourcing:

We can source any supply you are looking for and if we cannot find it, we may be able to produce it in our factory to your specifications. We have key product lines in construction, fasteners, furniture components and custom manufacturing–but we can find or make any product you need.

Logistics:

We handle the heavy lifting. We work with freight forwarders to handle logistics, customs and shipping to your door. Let us worry about finding what you need and getting it to you.

Availability and Quick Turn-Around:

Our team is ready to find what you need.  We are easy to work and would love to provide a quote for the products you are looking for in your business.  Let us show you how competitive our pricing is for your market.