More ID and Passport Checks taking place

[Willy The Londoner]

I have just received the following email from the Bristish Consulate in Guangzhou.

This applies to all nationalities not only the Brits.



Greetings from the British Consulate-General in Guangzhou.

There has been an increase in passport and ID checks in the run up to the Asian Games, and that these checks are likely to continue through to the end of the games.  You should ensure that you carry your original passport with you at all times, in line with our existing travel advice.

Best regards,
Consular Section
British Consulate-General Guangzhou
2/F Guangdong International Hotel
339 Huanshi Dong Lu
Guangzhou PRC 510098


Suggest that those that do not hold temp. residents permits should carry passport until end of games especially if you have a good sun tan!  Not saying the police are racist but this appears to be the group that are checked more regularly than others.
 
The games are in November so anyone visiting between now and Christmas could be checked more often.
 
Willy

[ttwjr32]

also i would like to mention that right now up to the start of the games there is quite an influx of western people
coming here, and according to my brother in law in the special law enforcement here after the games is when they
will be checking heavy because of the amount of people who will overstay their visa.

so i would also carry it for quite a while after the games as they will be checking quite heavy. i guess after the
olympic games they found out that many many thousands stayed over. and then tried to leave saying they just
lost their passport. i dont know if you say that they have a way of checking to see when yours expired but i do
know they were quite surprised with the sudden influx of lost passports afterward.

if they check you and you dont have it on you its a simple fix but it also comes with a small fine which is 50 rmb the
first time. so i would carry it and especially if your in or coming near Guangzhou  which is like shenzhen,zhuhai,zhongshan
and those surroundiong areas


just a thought and addition to this post

Ted

[Martin]

I don't know if you were telling a joke or not...but why would they check people with a sun tan more than others?

[Martin]

I know it is not "fashionable" for Chinese to be tanned...but does that rule apply to "white" people as well?

[Willy The Londoner]

I know it is not "fashionable" for Chinese to be tanned...but does that rule apply to "white" people as well?

Read between the lines Martin!  The groups that get check most, but unofficialy, are normally black or very dark brown.  These are the ones that they believe will overstay their visa. 

Checks on these groups by plain clothes men happen nightly when they gather in City Centres.

Willy

Me I just get a pull in my own homes!!!! 

[ttwjr32]

My guess is, that in China they would be viewed as the "low life" people .... is that what you mean Willy?


no actually that is not what he is saying. but there are a certain set of people that do abuse their visa
rights and its pretty common knowledge here and for what it is worth they should check them to hell
with political correctness.

[Bee964]

Mike,

I am taking notes here.....

Dave C