A far-reaching overhaul of border administration is to be started
following China's entry to the
World
Trade Organization (WTO) to cope with the expected deluge of
tourists and businessmen.
At
the heart of the new drive is the simplification of entry and exit
procedures for people seeking to invest or travel in the
country.
The change in policy was revealed Wednesday by Zhao Yongji,
vice-minister of public security, who said officials were already
facing mounting paperwork to cope with rising numbers of people
flocking to China.
He
told a national conference in Beijing that border controls have
reported an annual increase of 27.9 percent of people entering and
leaving the country during the past 12 years.
This presents significant new challenges and opportunities to
administration staff, Zhao said.
He
said the state will make fresh amendments to the Nationality Law
and Administration Law Governing Foreigners' Cross-border
Movements.
A
mutual information network that combines exit and entry information
and household registration management will be established within
three years, he disclosed.
The three-day conference is reviewing the progress achieved in exit
and entry administration since the first national conference was
held in 1989. It will also tackle current problems, such as human
trafficking, and propose solutions for the future.
In
the past 12 years, public security authorities have checked 1.3
billion tourists while 122 million vehicles entered and left the
country, he said. Officials have also approved 24.8 million private
exits.
Border administration has improved with the development of reform
and opening-up. Since 1989, China has opened 110 new exit and entry
ports, set up more than 100 border defense stations and eight visa
spots for foreigners, and listed 20 destination countries for
groups traveling at their own expense.
A
series of amendments on laws and regulations on border defense
administration and exit and entry were drafted and carried out, the
official said.
In
order to speed up the flow of information, the Ministry of Public
Security has set up national databases on visas, and exit and entry
administration. For example, the information of 90 percent of exit
and entry tourists will be obtained within two hours from networks
of border inspection centers.
He
urged public security bureaus to further improve efficiency through
simplifying exit and entry procedures.
(China
Daily November 22, 2001)