So I had to get out of China for a night. Actually got two nights out of it. The long and the short of it is my camera gear is in China without being charged import duty. It’d be about $15,000 or so. Instead of paying the duty, my gear is on a document called a Carnet du Passage. French for “ you should be able to come and go with your stuff for no cost, just don’t stay longer then one year!” It is a renewable document every year and keeps you from selling the stuff abroad and not paying tax or duty on it.
Of course this being China it’s not so simple. Both times they have seized my stuff. Apparently they won’t recognize it if you call it Professional Equipment. So after much back and forth the wording was change to say for Fairs and Exhibitions. Now, I don’t take part in fairs and exhibitions. But what do I can, I just need my gear. So after trying to get an extension, (the Chinese would only give me 6 months,) I had to get out of the country. Hong Kong counts as out of China; although Hong Kong is now part of China but I don’t think I’m the one to be discussing the turnover of Hong Kong to Mainland China. I didn’t study much in high school, as my parents will attest.
Which brings me to this, here is a couple shots from Hong Kong. Need to go back when it is a little sunnier, but hey was able to get out of Beijing and enjoy a milder greener city for a night or two. Maybe next time I’ll opt for Thailand or the Philippines. The nice thing is it timed out nicely to be over the Chinese New Year. Oh and yes, the fireworks continue. Day 15.
Oh the first shot is Beijing at night the rest are HK
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