From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- China Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 14:05:47 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1008 Path: world!root Message-ID: <960322140547_76702.1202_CHN30-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: root@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 231 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - China ============================================================ China - Consular Information Sheet March 21, 1996 Country Description: The People's Republic of China has been a one-party state controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since its founding in 1949. It is one of the world's largest and fastest growing economies. Modern tourist facilities are not widely available, except in major cities. Entry Requirements: Persons who arrive in China without a visa may be fined at the port of entry and may not be allowed to enter China. The Chinese Government does not permit foreigners to visit some areas of China. For information about entry requirements and restricted areas, travelers may consult the Embassy of the People's Republic of China at 2300 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008. The telephone number is (202) 328-2500. There are also Chinese Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Medical Facilities: The quality of medical care in China is uneven. Competent, trained doctors and nurses are available in major metropolitan centers. Hospital accommodations, however, are spartan, and medical technology is not up-to-date. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage including provision for medical evacuation may be useful. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. The Department of State brochure, "Tips for Travelers to the People's Republic of China" contains additional information concerning medical care in China. This brochure is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The International Travelers Hotline of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be reached at (404) 332-4559 for additional useful health information. The following two emergency medical assistance firms have representative offices and internationally staffed clinics in Beijing: Asia Emergency Assistance Ltd. (AEA) 14 Liangmahe South Road, 1/F Beijing 100600 Tel: (86-10) 462-9112 Fax: (86-10) 462-9111 International SOS Assistance (SOS) Kunlun Hotel, Office Suite 433 2 Xin Yuan Nan Lu, Beijing 24 hours Tel: (86-10) 500-3419 Fax: (86-10) 501-6048 Information on Crime: China has a low crime rate; crime has increased in the past few years, however, principally in the major cities. Heated arguments in China sometimes attract large crowds of onlookers who, on occasion, have become abusive. Theft is the most common crime affecting visitors and occurs most frequently in crowded public areas, such as hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, and public transportation sites. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police, and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Police reports of the theft are required before travelers may obtain new visas from Chinese authorities. Chinese authorities require that travelers have valid visas to exit China, and even to travel and register in hotels within China. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad". It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and do not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Criminal penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect severe jail sentences and fines. Foreign passport holders have been executed for drug offenses, and one U.S. citizen, convicted on drug-related charges in Shanghai, received a fifteen-year prison sentence. Customs Information: Information concerning regulations and procedures governing items that may be brought into China is available through the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the U.S. Students may bring into China only a limited number of items which are considered necessary for study and daily life. Some U.S. citizens residing in China have been required to pay customs duty on certain large items each time they temporarily depart China, if procedures were not followed when the items were originally brought into China. Additional information concerning Chinese Customs regulations is contained in the Department of State brochure, "Tips for Travelers to the People's Republic of China" which is available from the Superintentent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20420. Passport Confiscation: The confiscation of foreign passports of persons involved in commercial disputes occurs in China. Under such circumstances, the U.S. Government will issue another passport to any U.S. citizen who applies for one. Even with a new U.S. passport, however, Chinese authorities may block departure by refusing to provide a visa for exit purposes. Consular Access: U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry their U.S. passports or photocopies of passport data and photo pages with them at all times so that, if questioned by PRC officials, proof of U.S. citizenship is readily available. The U.S.- PRC Consular Convention of 1980 provides that U.S. citizens have the right to consular access, that U.S. consular officers shall be notified of the arrest or detention of a U.S. citizen within four days, and that a consular officer may visit the citizen within two days of making a formal request. Note, however, that U.S. consular officers do not always receive timely notification of the arrest of a U.S. citizen. U.S. citizens who are arrested or detained should request contact with the U.S. Embassy or one of the U.S. Consulates General. As explained below, China does not recognize dual nationality. Dual nationals who enter China on Chinese passports may be denied access to U.S. consular officials. Dual Nationality: China does not recognize dual nationality. U.S. citizens who are also Chinese nationals have experienced difficulty entering and departing China on U.S. passports, and some U.S. passports have been seized by Chinese authorities. Note that the United States requires that all U.S. citizens enter and depart the U.S. on U.S. passports. Dual nationals may be subject to Chinese laws which impose special obligations. In some cases, such persons are required to use Chinese documentation to enter China. Dual nationals who enter and depart China using a U.S. passport and a valid PRC visa retain the right of U.S. consular access and protection under the U.S.- PRC Consular Convention. The ability of the U.S. Embassy or Consulates General to provide normal consular services would be extremely limited should a dual national enter China on a Chinese or other passport. China does not recognize the U.S. citizenship of children born in China, one of whose parents is a PRC national. Such children are required to enter and depart China on PRC travel documents. Children born in the United States to PRC national parents who are neither lawful permanent residents nor U.S. citizens, are not recognized as U.S. citizens under Chinese nationality law. Although Chinese consulates have frequently issued visas to such individuals in error, they are treated solely as PRC nationals by Chinese authorities when in China. Specific questions on dual nationality may be directed to the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State, Room 4811A, Washington, D.C. 20520 or to the U.S. Embassy or one of the U.S. Consulates General in China. Adoption: After completing a lengthy pre-approval process, U.S. citizens wishing to adopt a child in China can expect to spend at least two weeks in China. U.S. immigrant visas for adopted children are issued at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou. For additional information, contact the Office of Children's Issues, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State, Room 4811A, Washington, D.C. 20520. Travel to Tibet: The Chinese Government requires U.S. citizens wishing to visit Tibet to apply in advance for approval from the Tourist Administration of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. More information is available through the Chinese Embassy or one of the Chinese Consulates in the United States, or, while in China, at the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S. Consulate General. There have been some reports of robberies and assaults along remote highways near China's border with Nepal and in areas near Everest. See safety information contained above in the section "Information on Crime.'' Document Seizures: Chinese authorities have seized documents, literature, and letters which they deem to be pornographic, political in nature, or intended for religious proselytizing. Persons seeking to enter China with religious materials in a quantity deemed to be greater than that needed for personal use, can be detained and fined. Magazines with photographs considered commonplace in Western countries, including some advertisements, may be regarded as sexually explicit pornography. Books, films, records and tapes may be seized by Chinese Customs to determine that they do not violate Chinese prohibitions. Individuals believed to be engaged in proselytizing or in conduct Chinese officials consider immoral have been detained and expelled. Registration/Embassy and Consulate Locations: U.S. citizens living in or visiting China are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy or one of the U.S. Consulates in China. They may also obtain updated information on travel and security within the country at the Embassy or Consulates. The U.S. Embassy Consular Section in China is located at 2 Xiu Shui Dong Jie , Beijing - 100600, Telephone (86-10) 532-3831, After-Hours: (86-10) 532-1910; Fax: (86-10) 532-3178. The U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou is located at Number 1 South Shamian Street, Shamian Island 20031, Guangzhou 510133; Telephone (86-20) 886-2418 or (86-20) 886-2402 Ext. 256; After-Hours: (86-10) 930-3004; Fax: (86-20) 886-2341. The U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai is located at 1469 Huaihai Zhong Lu, Telephone (86-21) 6433-6880, After-Hours: (86-21) 6433-3936; Fax: (86-21) 6433-4122. The U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang is located at No. 52, 14th Wei Road, Heping District, Shenyang 110003, Telephone (86-24) 282-0038, 0048, 0068 or 0074; After-Hours: Same as above; Fax: (86-24) 282-0074. The U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu is located at Number 4, Lingshiguan Road, Section 4, Renmin Nanlu, Chengdu 610041, Telephone (86-28) 558-9642, After-Hours: (86-28) 901-1899; Fax: (86-28) 558-3520. No. 96-070 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated October 31, 1994. It updates information on Entry Requirements, Criminal Penalties, Consular Access, Document Seizures, Medical Facilities, Customs Information, Dual Nationality and U.S. Embassy and Consulate telephone numbers and fax numbers. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories