most hong kong people were able to gain residency abroad because of their technological skills and investments.

while hong kong has retained its attraction for locals, it has also lured more people to its shores.

official statistics show that the number of overseas people in hong kong - indians, filipinos and british - account for 71,000 out of a population of 6.9 million.

timberland uk the culture of tolerance can be seen in the busy streets. there are restaurants and shops from all nations.

"hong kong is really a very tolerant and free-spirited city. the cultural tolerance and perfect mixture is reflected in the diversity of our international visitors," said b.c. lo, vice-president of public affairs, hong kong disneyland.

hong kong, however, has undergone some subtle changes too.

this is evident in the choice of passport.

ten years after hong kong's return to the motherland, many hong kong people have abandoned their british national (overseas) or bno passports in favor of the hong kong special administrative region (hksar) passport.

according to hong kong immigration department sources, in the mbt walking shoes past 10 years, as many as 4 million, or 60 percent of hong kong's population of permanent residents, have applied for hksar passports, and the number is growing.

the hksar government has managed to obtain visa-free access to as many as 134 countries or regions. bno passports enjoyed visa-free access to only 114 countries. the passports are still valid.

the safety ensured by chinese embassies and consulates as well as a sense of nationalism have also been key factors in the popularity of hksar passports.

wong yim-fat is of timberland boots sale those who think hksar passports are not only more convenient, but also offer consular or embassy protection from the chinese government in times of distress.

women ugg boots "while holding a bno passport, you felt like a second-class citizen," wong said. "but a hksar passport gives you all the privilege that a chinese citizen enjoys."

according to lu xinhua, commissioner of the ministry of foreign affairs in the hksar, not only hongkongers have enjoyed an uplift in their international status, but also the hksar government.

during the past 10 years, the hksar government has joined more than 50 international, intra-government organizations and 200 international treaties with the mbt shoes sale proper identity of hong kong, china.

"under the basic law, we have tried our best to help exchanges between the hksar government and the international community, in order to forge its long-term prosperity and stability," lu said.