Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Six types of foreigners not welcome for the Olympics

Danwei: "So it's pretty clear: No hookers, pimps, dealers, terrorists, activists, revolutionaries, missionaries, demonstrators, pornographers, gun nuts, maniacs, sufferers of mental diseases, carriers of infectious diseases, poisonous snake collectors, beggars or drunkards.

But the rest of you are welcome in Beijing in August 2008.

And you can bring Fido."


personae_non_gratae.jpg
The dirty six - click to enlarge

On Monday, the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee (BOCOG) issued a set of "legal guidelines" for foreigners visiting China during the Games, including a list of six types of foreigners that are not welcome. Shanghaiist and The Wall Street Journal's China blog have summarized the key points (see links below).

But it must be said that The Shanghai Daily did a better job of describing the rules, at least if comic timing is the measure:

China bans sex workers, terrorists during Olympics

Overseas visitors suspected of working in the sex trade, of smuggling drugs or belonging to a terrorist organization will not be allowed to enter China during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, organizers of the Games said today.

After September, things will revert to normal.

Foreigners with mental or epidemic diseases, including tuberculosis and leprosy, will also not be issued visas to visit China, the Organizing Committee said in a circular published on its official Website.

Entry would be banned to anyone with "subversive" intent upon arriving in China, according to the rule.

"Foreigners must respect Chinese laws while in China and must not harm China's national security or damage social order," the rule states.

The pamphlet, in Chinese only, also banned foreigners from carrying weapons, replica guns, ammunition, explosives, drugs, and dangerous species.

Publications as well as computer storage devices with content harmful to China's politics, cultures, morals and economy are also prohibited, the circular said.

However, visiting foreigners may bring one pet during their visit.

But even the Shanghai Daily report did not list, one by one, the six types of foreigners not welcome. This is a translation of the list of the unwelcome foreigners (the original Chinese is linked below and in the screen shot above):

1. People who have been deported or prohibited from entering China by the Chinese government.

2. Those who are suspected might commit acts of terrorism, violence or subversion after entering China. 

3. Those who are suspected might engage in smuggling, drug dealing or prostitution after entering China.
4. Those suffering from mental disorders or insanity, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis or other infectious diseases. 

5. Those who cannot guarantee their ability to support themselves financially while in China. 

6. Those who are suspected might engage in any acts that threaten the security or interests of China.

So it's pretty clear: No hookers, pimps, dealers, terrorists, activists, revolutionaries, missionaries, demonstrators, pornographers, gun nuts, maniacs, sufferers of mental diseases, carriers of infectious diseases, poisonous snake collectors, beggars or drunkards.

But the rest of you are welcome in Beijing in August 2008.

And you can bring Fido.

Links and Sources
OLYMPIC WATCH: Human Rights in China and Beijing 2008

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