The Bank of China began preparations to do business in Hong Kong in RMB in January 2004, and from April that year, mainland tourists were able to pay for purchases using their UnionPay cards. Before this, mainland residents going to Hong Kong had to carry large quantities of cash. According to statistics, Chinese mainland tourists spend more money in Hong Kong than tourists from any other country, and they spend an average of 3,000 yuan per person.

"In 2005, consumption by mainland tourists was about five to six billion yuan, and in 2006 the figure reached ten billion. In addition, in 2006 our UnionPay cards were used to withdraw ten billion yuan from ATM machines, so the total of purchases and cash withdrawals in 2006 came to more than 20 billion. This is very rapid growth," said Su Chengxin, general manager, BOC Credit Card Company Co.

"After more than a month or preparations, Zhang Yiwei is ready to open his clothing store. Life today, it seems, is much busier and more stressful than it was in the past. Zhang's store is open for business every day from 10:00 am and it stays open until midnight. This is, in fact, the hours adhered to throughout the whole of Mongkok, a schedule set, in reality, by the mainland tourists themselves," said Fa Yuen Street, Mongkok, Kowloon.

"I need to do 10,000 dollars in business every day to make a profit, cover rent and salaries and so on. I actually do about 20,000 dollars every day," said Zhang Yiwei, owner of clothing store.

The name Mongkok was given to a piece of land between Nathan Road and the sea way back in the 1930s, and the name carries the meaning of a thriving headland. After the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty, Mongkok through a period of neglect, but as we look down on Hong Kong today, it is evident that Nathan Road is now the longest and brightest street in Hong Kong, and that the brightest portion of that street is Mongkok.

CEPA officially took effect on January 1st, 2004, and on that same day the Origin Office of Huanggang Customs, Shenzhen, also went into operation, allowing goods originating in Hong Kong to pass through customs without paying customs duties. Every day these goods go through inspection procedures and formalities here into China.

"This certificate of origin is very precious to me. Why? CEPA went into effect on January 1st, 2004. On January 2nd, I applied for a certificate of origin, and on January 3rd, my company was the first manufacturer in Hong Kong to receive a certificate," said Chen Guorong, general manager of Nin Jiom Co.