"Don't Discriminate We 'Foreigners'"

A letter addressed to Mainland Chinese people: do not "discrimination" We foreignersGan Qian Lin (Norway) / Wen Zhu Lei / compile
I said I like the mainland of China, right? Last week, sitting in the airplane flight from Lanzhou to Guangzhou, I counted the China Customs stamp on the passport. Wow! Four years to a total of over Mainland 74!
I do not understand why some people do not like the mainland. I know some people, lived in Hong Kong for 10 years, 15 years, or even 20 years, but has never been to the Mainland. How they can afford to ignore this on the home front, the most popular tourist destination in the world today?
By train from Hong Kong to Shenzhen and HK $ 33, the whole journey is not over 45 minutes. I really do not understand why people are willing to leave or weekend to Xin Matai, unwilling to Shenzhen revolution? Speaking of money - overseas degree of a short holiday is necessary to spend two or three million Hong Kong dollars, and I only spent 2,500 yuan to play three weeks in Xinjiang, which also includes a return ticket. When I saw the 74 have round well-stamp in the passport, I am reminded of a fun trip 74 times.
I suddenly think of a question: Why do I need the stamps? I have a Hong Kong identity card, it says clearly: Hong Kong permanent resident card. So I was the one in Hong Kong, Hong Kong people have rights and obligations. I have the right to participate in elections in Hong Kong, to pay taxes and contribute to a variety of charities. I am a native of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is it not a city? Then the Hong Kong people are Chinese people, and that is as a Hong Kong citizen, I live in China. But why every time I go to Shenzhen, I suddenly became a "foreigner" it? Hong Kong people with their "Return To The Village entry. These "second-class" and we Hong Kong people had to line up to fill in a form, waiting to be stamped on the passport.
Yes, I like the Mainland. So every month I want to come at least twice, it's like a pilgrimage. Although I have seen some bad places: the sharp increase in the number of cars, deterioration of air quality, the destruction of many of the city's original style ...... but 17 years ago the first time I came here compared to great progress.
I am very pleased to see that the FEC does not exist. The so-called foreign exchange certificates, for foreigners (or Overseas Chinese) to use the money to buy things, to stay in a hotel and buy a ticket at the Friendship Store. Banks exchange foreign currency or traveler's checks I get is this foreign exchange certificates. I soon discovered that 1 FEC is equivalent to two yuan on the black market. In Beijing in 1988, almost all traded on the black market foreign exchange.
However, I found that, as a foreigner, I need to spend double the price to buy a train ticket. Of course, the train also there is a black market, only a fool would buy a ticket at the counter with FEC. But to do so is also very troublesome for the yuan, have to waste a lot of time to find someone to help you buy your ticket. Well now, the FEC does not exist, we can line up the same as ordinary Chinese people, or crowded in to buy tickets.
Another reason I like the mainland, because every city has at least one park. Every time I went to a new city will be looking for the nearest park to a wonderful time to enjoy a few hours in the woods. In the past, such a wonderful mood tend to be 10 times the ticket price Destruction: If the Chinese people pay an angle, then foreigners have to pay $ 1, or Chinese people pay 1 yuan, foreigners pay $ 10. In any case, the foreigner fare is at least 10 times the fare of the Chinese people. Pay more if they can get better service, I do not mind. But my strong dissatisfaction: we should pay more just because of a different color! Fortunately, the Chinese government is aware of this policy is ridiculous. Foreigners and Chinese people now spend as much money you can visit parks and museums. This practice on!
So I think that discrimination against foreigners in China has disappeared, however Xinjiang exercise with a new perspective. That was a trip to Korla. 1:30, I come down from the train, only one idea in mind: to sleep! So, I'm looking for a taxi, tell the driver took me to a place to sleep. So he took me to a hotel. Very good! But the receptionist's mouth talking about something I thought long ago eliminated: "We only receive the Chinese people."
Has been almost two in the morning, a tired woman, almost unable to move because of "racial discrimination" and could not find a place to sleep? This is simply unbelievable. Fortunately, the driver is a smart guy, he knows I have a Hong Kong permanent resident status in the I brought another hotel told me to appear on the identity of the Hong Kong compatriots. A success! I use the Chinese name and Hong Kong identity card numbers of successful stay. The prices are very reasonable, though not luxurious equipment, but a clean bed, and it was enough. Since then, I started as much as possible to use the identity of the "Hong Kong compatriots, my complexion and the majority of Hong Kong people.
Why cheap hotels can not receive foreign guests? The official statement might be: because they are too simple, "not suitable for foreigners living". This is definitely a flimsy reason. In Hong Kong, some foreign backpackers 8 people crowded into a smelly and dirty small room, there are cockroaches and rats. I have also lived. As a young man traveling the price is more important than comfort.
Chinese people all over the world, are very sensitive to racial discrimination against them. It's should be, because the Chinese people for centuries of exploitation, oppression and discrimination. I am very pleased to see that the Chinese people have stood up, China has found its rightful place in the world power. But while she cries for their own nationals unfair treatment should also care about their own backyard discrimination against foreigners?
(Department of the author, a freelance writer, now residing in Hong Kong, is currently working on the novel about their experiences living in China Jin Falian ")