The Frontier Defence Inspection Station at Pudong International Airport, now busy with the preparation work, vows to make greater efforts in their work to better maintain smooth order in the airport.

Pudong International Airport began operations in 1999, making Shanghai the only city in the country boasting two international airports.

Due to the closer connection with the outside, some 180,000 local residents have entered or left the country from Shanghai in the first half of this year, up 20 per cent on the same period last year. More than 2 million foreigners paid their visits here last year.

When the transfer of all international flights to Pudong is completed, it is estimated that more than 160 international flights will take off or land every day, 90 more than at present.

The Frontier Defence force at the airport plans to step up its operations to meet the increased traffic.

It is found that the number of stowaways and passengers with bogus passports or visas has soared in the past two years.

The issue of human smuggling has been given high priority since 58 Chinese illegal immigrants were found dead in a container at the British port of Dover on June 19, 2000.

Their fatal voyage had been arranged by "snakeheads", the term for those engaged in human smuggling.

China's public security departments have stepped up their efforts to combat human trafficking by "snakeheads", especially in the country's coastal regions.

Officials revealed that the main destinations of would-be stowaways are the United States, Canada, and some European countries, although in recent years more people have been trying to get to countries in Southeast Asia.

According to top officials, the relentless crackdown throughout the country has been successful in reducing the number of illegal emigrants. Last year, some 9,465 stowaways were caught throughout the country, down 18 per cent on the previous year.

(Shanghai Star September 26, 2002)