With 'one country, two systems' not due to expire until 2047, no one has seriously suggested that the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen should be dismantled soon. But the desire for a faster pace of integration between Hong Kong and the mainland has long driven some of our visionary leaders to urge simpler border-crossing arrangements. Lawrence Lau Juen-yee, vice-chancellor of Chinese University, this week threw his weight behind the lobby for a smoother passage to Hong Kong's closest mainland neighbour. His ideas boil down to the following question: what if we dispensed with immigration checks for Hongkongers visiting Shenzhen, and conducted such checks only on those who travel farther inland - at Shenzhen's border with other parts of Guangdong? His proposal would benefit all Hong Kong's permanent and temporary residents, who would have to present their passports only on their return to the city. He also wants all Hong Kong-registered vehicles to be able to drive to Shenzhen without border checks. At present, travellers have to disembark on reaching the border, go through checks at Hong Kong immigration, reboard to drive to the Shenzhen checkpoint, disembark for checks, then reboard to go to their destinations. Hong Kong-registered vehicles are not allowed to cross into Shenzhen unless they are also licensed on the mainland. If Professor Lau's proposals became policy, travelling to Shenzhen would become a more comfortable experience, and the strain on immigration officials would be reduced. It would also amount to extending Hong Kong's social border to embrace the whole of Shenzhen. From a Hong Kong perspective, one can see few reasons against adopting the proposals. The only reservations might come from law-enforcement agencies, which may be concerned that they could no longer apprehend fugitives at border checkpoints. Another possibly sticky issue is that Shenzhen residents might agitate for reciprocal treatment. They can already come to Hong Kong for short visits under the individual travellers' scheme. But they must go through more elaborate checks at the border than Hong Kong visitors. If we and our vehicles were allowed freer access to Shenzhen, it would only be fair for the other side to demand similar access to Hong Kong. But are we ready for that? Many Hongkongers would probably say 'not yet' - for fear of Shenzhen criminals preying on them and Shenzhen drivers causing chaos on our roads. Over the long term, however, there can be no doubt that Hong Kong must take steps to prepare for integration with the mainland. Professor Lau's proposals might be ahead of the times, but they must form phase one of a progressive plan to move our border with the mainland and, eventually, to dismantle it. Phase two might involve allowing residents of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to move freely within the two cities' borders, while phase three would see Hongkongers and Guangdong residents mingling as one throughout the province. The speed with which such a plan should be implemented will have to depend on how fast the wealth gap between Hong Kong and the mainland narrows. The year 2047 is still a long way off. But if the mainland continues to develop at its current rate, there should be no reason for a border to exist with Hong Kong by then. C. K. Lau is the Post's executive editor, policy ck.lau@scmp.com
