yeah,... This isn't about "obeying existing laws." They've changed visa regulations in a way that makes it very difficult for foreigners to come here... at the time of an event that was supposed to be all about China "opening up." For every story I've heard of someone caught working illegally on a tourist visa (only one story, second hand, of an English teacher), I've heard dozens of first hand stories of honest people being sent home do to inability to secure a visa that before the olympics would have been no problem. For example, I know people studying Chinese here this semester, people planning on continuing to study next semester, who have to go all the way back to their home countries, just for the month of August, because they can't get permission to stay. This would have been no issue in the past. Some of these people will not be able to study next semester, because they can't afford to fly home and back, and still have money left to live and study here next semester. The Olympics aren't bringing foreigners to China, The Olympics are removing foreigners from China. and, ... for people traveling, it's not feasible to register with the police at every little hotel you stay at. When I had an apartment in China, I (and everyone I knew) had to register with the police. It seemed excessive (some might say ridiculous), but I could deal with it. It did mean that my landlord had to come with me to the police station, which meant I was severely restricted in terms of what apartments were available to me (sort of a tax on foreigners in a sense). If the police are feeling lazy on the day you go to the police station, they say "oh, the person that has to sign stuff isn't here today, come back tomorrow." When you come back the next day, the same person you talked to the day before is feeling a bit more motivated and signs your paperwork. Both times require sitting around the police station waiting for at least a few hours (if not all day). When actually traveling around, this isn't feasible. If I'm only staying in a hotel for a couple of nights, I can't honestly be expected to spend one of my two days in a city sitting around a police station, nor can the owner of a tiny little guest house with 1-2 rooms be expected to come hang out with me at the police station all day. ... and I'm certainly not about to spend hundreds of dollars per day to stay in some place that *might* help a bit with paperwork. So the laws are ignored. That's just how life is in China. That's how things are anywhere. Ridiculous impossible rules aren't obeyed. I assume that if I'm only staying in a place for a short period of time, no one will notice. If they do, then I don't know what happens. Maybe they'll be understanding. Sometimes they are. Chinese laws, often because of their absurdity, tend to be flexible. I knew someone who wanted to visit Tibet. I know it's restricted, but lots of foreigners visit Tibet. The official policy is that you just need to apply for a permit. I know people who've gone. There are foreigners in Tibet right now. A foreign reporter even went to Tibet. The officials have been through the permit process a thousand times, right? Should be a no-brainer, right? This guy I met goes to apply for the permit. "no, you need a plane ticket first." This seems bad. What if he buys a plane ticket, and then doesn't get the permit?? I mean, sure, an *application* is a chance you take. Losing an application fee is no big deal. but buying a plane ticket that's dependent on a permit you might not get, a bit sketchy. OK.. it's China... grin and bear it, right? just go ahead, close your eyes, cross your fingers, buy the ticket. That's just how it works here, right? OK, so he goes to the airport. "one ticket to lhasa, tibet." "can I see your permit?" "umm..... I don't have a permit. They told me I need the plane ticket first." "sorry, we can't sell you a ticket unless you have a permit." So he goes back and forth about a dozen times between the two offices before someone finally budges. This takes about 5 days. If both the airline, and the permit office actually followed the rules laid down to them, ... it would not be possible for anyone to ever go to Tibet. You need a ticket to get a permit, and you need a permit to get a ticket. Someone in one of these two offices had to be "flexible." If Chinese laws obeyed the basic rules of logic, then maybe individual people would adhere to them. |
Register with PSB During Olympics?