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)