China's facilitated
individual travel policy on Macao- and Hong Kong-bound travel has
gained widespread support from the public.
According to a survey
conducted at the end of September by the Beijing-based Horizon
Research Group Inc, at least half of the population surveyed in
Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong
Province, said the policy, which allows independent travel in
the two regions, has brought convenience to planning holidays in
those areas.
Another 37.5 percent of
these surveyed believed the policy was "very good."
In the past, mainland
residents could only travel in the two regions by joining a tourist
group.
But this July, the
country's public security department adjusted the old rule and
began a trial run of the new regulations first in some cities in
Guangdong such as Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan and Jiangmen. Then
residents of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Huizhou in Guangdong
started enjoying the new rules as of August 20, while Beijing and
Shanghai residents began to benefit from the policy on September
1.
According to the new
policy, people are required to provide only residential cards and
identification cards when applying for the passes to Hong Kong and
Macao.
The process is much
simpler than before, when people had to submit all materials that
can prove the purpose of their trips.
The survey covered 250
people between the ages of 18 and 60 in Guangzhou's five districts,
25.9 percent of whom planned to go traveling during this National
Day holiday.
Among those who intended
to travel overseas, 80 percent chose Hong Kong and Macao as
destinations.
The survey also found
that nearly 60 percent of these travelers to Hong Kong and Macao
will go by themselves, instead of joining tour groups.
(China Daily October 7,
2003)