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Susie · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 390 Location: PRC

A HK friend and I had to pass through Heathrow on our travels around Europe.

At terminal 3, Virgin Atlantic staff check-in/in-flight staff usually wear red uniforms, but their security department staff don't wear red, or uniforms of any sort from what I could observe.

Just before the check-in desk, I was stopped by Virgin Atlantic security staff (a british woman of African ancestory) and asked for my passport and ticket, which I handed over. Then she asked when I was coming back. I told her that I'd be back some considerable time in the future and that I work in HK, that there's a work permit in my passport and I have a HK ID card. Then she asked for my HK ID card. A big argument ensued because my HK friend thought that only HK Immigration and Customs have a right to ask to see that card.

Does anyone with a modicum of intelligence know the facts on this question.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

"a british woman of African ancestory".. Did you get to see her passport and ask about her ancestory in order to ascertain this fact or are you just guessing? And more importantly, what relevance has it to your question about who is allowed to see HK Id cards? My modicum of intelligence can't work it out.

Mark-O · Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 9:05 am Post subject:

Bloody africans! What right do they have to see YOUR documents, eh? More to the point, what on earth are Virgin doing hiring this race of people? Cotton-picking fields are more appropriate, right?

Susie · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 390 Location: PRC

Who outside of HK has a right to ask to inspect one's HK ID card after one have given them one's valid passport for inspection?

The HK police have never asked to see my HK ID , the staff at the embassy of my country have never asked to see my HK ID, the mainland PSB and mainland immigration & customs people have never asked to see my HK ID card.

The only people who have asked to see my HK ID are my employers in HK, HK Customs & Immigration, and Virgin Atlantic (uniformless, British of African descent) security department staff at Heathrow Airport terminal 3.

I resent the inference that my question was racially motivated, I have shared apartments with people from Africa and have dated a very intelligent and polite man of Jamacian ancestory.

Why didn't the two who answered above pick up on the "no red uniform, no uniform at all" point? I would guess it is because the two of you are racist, would I be right? But in any event, I gather that neither of you are qualified with enough knowledge to answer my question regarding who outside of HK has a right to ask to inspect my HK ID card.

Mark-O · Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 1:35 pm Post subject:

Tsk ... blacks working in airports, whatever next!? Equal rights?!

You still haven't answered why you saw it necessary to include this person's ethnic origin in your original post. What relevance does it bear to the situation? If the woman was caucasian would you have felt the need to mention that she was 'white'. I doubt it very much. Why didn't YOU pick up on the "no red uniform, no uniform at all" as the sole piece of salient information for inclusion in your post?

Heathrow are exceedingly security sensitive at the moment and so might go some way to explaining your most inconvenient circumstance.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Why didn't the two who answered above pick up on the "no red uniform, no uniform at all" point? I would guess it is because the two of you are racist, would I be right?

Why on earth would I pick up on the red uniform point? I have no idea what you are talking about!!

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Ah I have a thought on the uniform thing..are you suggesting that if the lady had been wearing a red uniform it would have been alright? Maybe because red is the colour of the Chinese flag this would have made it more legitimate?

Scott in HK · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 148

The people who have asked to see my ID card

the hk gov..of course...

canadian immigration...saw it and asked to look at it....

the nice people at hsbc....

the nice people at blockbuster...

the nice people at netvigator...who continue to claim there serview is 10 mps and we all know that is a crock

the nice people at sunday...when i got my mobile service...

just about everyone i interact with that involves any sort of contract has asked to see my id card...

I am not sure what the big deal is if some security people ask you about in at an airport...

and I agree with OA and M-O....why did you have to tell use ethnic background of the person who asked you....

delian · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 40 Location: Hong Kong

I agree with Scott in HK. I carry my HK ID in my wallet because I am always asked for it.
I am asked for my HK ID when I pick up mail at the post-office, when I go to Macau, on any application I fill out...but I guess I don't understand what the big deal is? Who cares if some security guard asks to see your HK ID? The world is an extremely paranoid place right now, and Heathrow Airport is probably as bad as anywhere.
Ironically, the place that made me feel so cavalier about spouting my 'ID #' was the US (land of the free). I lived there for 5 years as a university student and within the first few months had memorised my social security number because I was CONSTANTLY asked to identify myself with this number. It was a little 'Brave New World'-ish. I didn't notice this in Canada. (I have dual citizenship) I can still remember my social security number, which is good because I'm going to vote against Bush in this election. Not to change the topic - sorry.

dandan · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 183 Location: Hong Kong

I can confirm categorically that every single person in the world has the right to ask to see your HK ID card. You have the right to show them or not.

In this case, as it was you who offered the fact that you have a HKID card as evidence of your likelihood of returning to HK in the future it seems perfectly reasonable that the person you mentioned it to might ask to see it. Your choice of showing or not would, I would imagine, be determined by whether you percieved it to be in your best interests to show it or not. If you wanted to proceed with the minimum of fuss and bother then the right choice would, I imagine, be to show it and get on with something more interesting. If however you enjoy arguing the toss about nothing in particular then not showing it would be the better choice. You have the right to make whichever choice you prefer.

Hope this helps.

Ludwig · Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 4:17 am Post subject:

Why did you tell her the held such identification? How is that said to be germane to anyone anywhere other than HK? Even when I go to mainland China at the weekend for shopping I never state that I have a HK ID card once I have passed through HK customs.

Ludwig · Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 4:21 am Post subject:

How is you point regarding "no red uniform, no uniform at all" relevant?

If you are not happy with the responses from this forum perhaps you should consider the possibility that it is not the most appropriate place for such a question to be answered. Besides, you just want to read what you merely want to read. After all, how will you ever know if an answer is valid or not?

I think you were trying to show off your modern machine readable HK ID card and paid the price therefor!

Ludwig · Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 4:21 am Post subject:

How is you point regarding "no red uniform, no uniform at all" relevant?

If you are not happy with the responses from this forum perhaps you should consider the possibility that it is not the most appropriate place for such a question to be answered. Besides, you just want to read what you merely want to read. After all, how will you ever know if an answer is valid or not?

I think you were trying to show off your modern machine readable HK ID card and paid the price therefor!

Ludwig · Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 4:24 am Post subject: Re: HK ID

Ludwig · Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 4:26 am Post subject: