Hong Kong and Macau - Hong kong/ china land border

While I never had any problems crossing HK/CN Land Borders as a US Citizen, I did notice HK equivalent of CBP (Customs and Border Patrol, US) Agents are rather indifferent. Also while crossing the border between Shenzhen and HK (Futian is a good example), I noticed how they treat Mainland Chinese in the same bucket as ALL FOREIGNERS. So the land border lines are exceedingly long for us the NON-CHINESE FOREIGNERS. I was in the line today at FUTIAN border crossing and 99.99% people in the line were Chinese Citizens? Do HK consider themselves to be NON-CHINESE. Last time I checked HK wan an integral part of China. Why don't they have a separate line for Mainland Chinese so that we the OTHER FOREIGNERS can have a shorter and more tolerable wait in the line. This is exacltly what the Chinese side does. They have a separate line for HK and Macao SAR and one for other FOREIGNERS. I am so irked everytime I have to be in line for 2 hrs, that I promise to bypass HK altogether and fly into SZ or Guanzhou airport directly. Please so something HK if you want the tourist dollars.

Why don't they have a separate line for Mainland Chinese so that we the OTHER FOREIGNERS can have a shorter and more tolerable wait in the line.

Why should they? There are HK residents, and there is OTHER FOREIGNERS. The fact that the OTHER FOREIGNERS happen to be Mainland Chinese is irrelevant, they just are not HK residents. Your comfort and well-being as an OTHER FOREIGNER crossing the border is meaningless to them. Would you like it if the US/Mexico border they should have a special line for MEXICANS and another for OTHER FOREIGNERS, since the vast majority of FOREIGNERS crossing into the US from Mexico are from Mexico?

As for your tourist dollars, I don't think the HK side cares the least bit about them. On the other hand, they certainly like the CHINESE FOREIGNER tourist dollar, even though they get treated like krep at the border and elsewhere.

I kind of agree with OP. They should have separate lines for mainland Chinese and non-Chinese. But, make most of those lines for the mainlanders and one agent, one line for people like the OP so he/she can have an even longer wait.

I've never waited more than 20 minutes. Yes, it's annoying to wait, but the HK/mainland border is still more efficient and far better run than land borders most other places in the world...

Actually, I've often waited longer in the dedicated "non-Chinese" line at the mainland checkpoint because there are often only one or two open lanes and the border police have a tendency to stare at my visa and residence permit for what seems like an eternity looking for who-knows-what (as opposed to the HK "hi-stamp-bye" routine).

My preferred solution to this whole situation would be to simply extend the HKIA Frequent Visitor eChannel to land borders.

I've never waited more than 20 minutes. Yes, it's annoying to wait, but the HK/mainland border is still more efficient and far better run than land borders most other places in the world...

Actually, I've often waited longer in the dedicated "non-Chinese" line at the mainland checkpoint because there are often only one or two open lanes and the border police have a tendency to stare at my visa and residence permit for what seems like an eternity looking for who-knows-what (as opposed to the HK "hi-stamp-bye" routine).

My preferred solution to this whole situation would be to simply extend the HKIA Frequent Visitor eChannel to land borders.

The wait was 2 hrs due to the SZ University games that started on 8/12.
HKIA FVC would be a good solution. They do have APEC fast lane at the Bay Border, but APEC cards are not available to US Citizens.

Why should they? There are HK residents, and there is OTHER FOREIGNERS. The fact that the OTHER FOREIGNERS happen to be Mainland Chinese is irrelevant, they just are not HK residents. Your comfort and well-being as an OTHER FOREIGNER crossing the border is meaningless to them. Would you like it if the US/Mexico border they should have a special line for MEXICANS and another for OTHER FOREIGNERS, since the vast majority of FOREIGNERS crossing into the US from Mexico are from Mexico?

As for your tourist dollars, I don't think the HK side cares the least bit about them. On the other hand, they certainly like the CHINESE FOREIGNER tourist dollar, even though they get treated like krep at the border and elsewhere.

Good response. But for HK residents, Mainland Chinese are not Foreigners.

Good response. But for HK residents, Mainland Chinese are not Foreigners.

They may not be "foreigners", but they aren't HK residents (at least the vast majority of them). That's the distinction at the border, not what passport you carry. If you have a HKID, you can go through the residents lanes, regardless of what passport you carry. If you don't, you can't, even if you aren't a "foreigner."

Private car is really the only civilized way to cross that border, if you ask me. Regardless of what cards you carry.

Private car is really the only civilized way to cross that border, if you ask me. Regardless of what cards you carry.

Completely agree. Get thee one of those comfy Alphards with dual plates, and it is all a cinch.

Write to the Immigration Department: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/contactus.htm

Sure, they should probably do something to appease the "other" foreigners (boy this thread is making me confused...) but strictly speaking, what they mean is that if you are not a HK CITIZEN/ RESIDENT, you are in the FOREIGNERS lane. Could they improve? Of course, just like the entire world!

The wait was 2 hrs due to the SZ University games that started on 8/12.

At least when I used the Shenzhen Bay crossing last week, there were dedicated lanes for those involved with the Universiade. Not sure about the other crossings.

I believe Lo Hu crossing has separated the Mainland visitors from other foreign visitors. I got thru there in about 5 minutes last time.

The main place where I run into the Mainland problem is arriving at HKIA. The lines there are reaching LAX and IAD levels of insanity. It took me over an hour when I arrived at mid-day last month. Definitely an incentive to skip HK altogether and head straight for the mainland airports.

I believe Lo Hu crossing has separated the Mainland visitors from other foreign visitors. I got thru there in about 5 minutes last time.

The main place where I run into the Mainland problem is arriving at HKIA. The lines there are reaching LAX and IAD levels of insanity. It took me over an hour when I arrived at mid-day last month. Definitely an incentive to skip HK altogether and head straight for the mainland airports.

If you are an elite in an airline and bring your card, you can (just past immigration) enroll in the rapid entry program. They put a sticker on your passport and you zoom through after that.

If you are an elite in an airline and bring your card, you can (just past immigration) enroll in the rapid entry program. They put a sticker on your passport and you zoom through after that.

Interesting! I have the HKIA FVC, but to qualify you needed to have been thru HKIA 6 times within last 2 yrs. With FVC lines do not exist. Your solution is a cinch. Almost everyone I know who travels to APAC are elite in one airline or another. Wonder why more people don't use it, if it's so easy. Lines are a pain at HKIA even for early am flight from SFO. BTW, how long does the "zoom through" work (validity)?

Interesting! I have the HKIA FVC, but to qualify you needed to have been thru HKIA 6 times within last 2 yrs. With FVC lines do not exist. Your solution is a cinch. Almost everyone I know who travels to APAC are elite in one airline or another. Wonder why more people don't use it, if it's so easy. Lines are a pain at HKIA even for early am flight from SFO. BTW, how long does the "zoom through" work (validity)?

It seems to be valid at least as long as your passport is.

One caution: if you want to sign up, bring the card that establishes your elite status with you -- at least when I signed up, they actually checked it against a poster with pictures of the various cards!

I can understand the OP's frustration but when I arrived in Chicago as a foreigner, the non-US citizens immigration counters were completely unmanned. we had to wait patiently while the authorities took their time to open them. But the US authorities have never valued tourist dollars as much as other countries do.

I can understand the OP's frustration but when I arrived in Chicago as a foreigner, the non-US citizens immigration counters were completely unmanned. we had to wait patiently while the authorities took their time to open them. But the US authorities have never valued tourist dollars as much as other countries do.

Could not agree more... how many people are skipping out on the US as a tourist destination or a transit hub because of the immigration lines, unfriendly officers, TSA, ESTA for supposedly "visa waiver" countries... etc etc.

I believe Lo Hu crossing has separated the Mainland visitors from other foreign visitors. I got thru there in about 5 minutes last time.

The main place where I run into the Mainland problem is arriving at HKIA. The lines there are reaching LAX and IAD levels of insanity. It took me over an hour when I arrived at mid-day last month. Definitely an incentive to skip HK altogether and head straight for the mainland airports.

Good to know. Thanks.

I believe Lo Hu crossing has separated the Mainland visitors from other foreign visitors. I got thru there in about 5 minutes last time.

The main place where I run into the Mainland problem is arriving at HKIA. The lines there are reaching LAX and IAD levels of insanity. It took me over an hour when I arrived at mid-day last month. Definitely an incentive to skip HK altogether and head straight for the mainland airports.

I can confirm that. Crossed at Lowu today, and their was a separate line for other foreigners. That line did include Taiwanese. Chinese had their own (very long) line. Being Sunday it did take close to 30 minutes on the other foreigners line, after less than 10 minutes getting through the China exit line.