From DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.orgTue Aug 22 02:35:28 1995 Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 10:12:00 +0100 From: Debra Guzman Reply to: beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org To: beijing95-l@netcom.com, beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org Subject: USA on Beijing 5 [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] U.S. Department of State 95/07/01 Consular Information on 4WCW, China, Sept. 4-5, 1995 Bureau of Consular Affairs Consular Information Fourth World Conference on Women Beijing, China September 4 - 15, 1995 The Department of State and the American Embassy in Beijing stand ready to provide regular consular assistance to and protection of U.S. citizens traveling to China to participate in the Fourth World Conference on Women and the NGO Forum. The Consular Section at the American Embassy in Beijing strongly urges all participants to register by fax in advance of leaving the United States. Consular officers from the American Embassy will be available to participants who need consular assistance at the Conference and NGO sites, and after hours through an emergency duty officer program. Registration: The fax number for the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing is (011) (86-10) 532-3178. Please provide the following information by fax to the U.S. Embassy, Attn: American Citizens Services Section, Consular Section: -- Name (as it appears in your passport) -- Date and Place of Birth -- Passport Number -- Date and Place of Issuance of Your Passport -- Address and Telephone Number in Beijing -- Arrival and Departure Dates -- Travel Itinerary in China (if any) -- U.S. Contact (address and telephone number) Country Description: The People's Republic of China (PRC) has been a one party state controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since its founding in 1949. It is one of the world's largest and fastest growing economies. Modern tourist facilities are not widely available, except in major cities. How to Avoid Legal Problems: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations. In some instances, laws in China differ significantly from those in the United States and do not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Exercise caution and carefully obey local laws. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Chinese laws prohibit public demonstrations without a valid permit obtained from the Chinese Public Security Bureau in the city where the demonstration is planned. Information on Crime: China has a low crime rate; however, crime has increased in the past few years, principally in the major cities. Americans and other foreigners have seldom been victims of violent crime. Theft is the most common crime affecting visitors and occurs most frequently in crowded public areas, such as hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, and public transportation sites. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Police reports are necessary in China in order to obtain new visas from Chinese authorities. Chinese authorities require that travelers have valid visas to exit China and to travel and register in hotels within China. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad. It is available for $1 from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: Travelers are subject to the laws and legal practices of the country in which they travel. Criminal penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect severe jail sentences and fines. Hong Kong passport holders have been executed for drug offenses, and one U.S. citizen, convicted on drug-related charges in Shanghai, has received a fifteen-year prison sentence. Customs Information: Information concerning regulations and procedures governing items that may be brought into China is available through the Chinese Embassy and Consulates. Importation of equipment for personal use during the conference and forum such as computers and other electronic devices may be permitted without the payment of customs duty, so long as the items are re-exported from China upon China. The U.S. Embassy can make inquiries about customs disputes, however, interpretation of Chinese customs laws and regulations is solely the jurisdiction of Chinese authorities. Passport Confiscation: The confiscation of foreign passports of persons involved in commercial disputes occurs in China. Under such circumstances, the U.S. government will issue another passport to any American citizen who applies for one. Even if a new U.S. passport is issued, the Chinese government may block departure. As noted above a valid visa is required to exit China. Dual Nationality: China does not recognize dual nationality. U.S. citizens who are also Chinese nationals have experienced difficulty entering and departing China on U.S. passports, and some U.S. passports have been seized by Chinese authorities. Dual nationals may be subject to Chinese laws which impose special obligations. Such persons are often required to use Chinese documentation to enter China. U.S. citizens attending the conference should report any difficulties immediately to the U.S. Embassy. The United States requires that all U.S. citizens enter and depart the U.S. on U.S. passports. Dual nationals who enter and depart China using a U.S. passport and a valid PRC visa retain the right of U.S. consular access and protection under the U.S.- PRC Consular Convention. The ability of the U.S. Embassy or Consulates General to provide normal consular services would be extremely limited should a dual national enter China on a Chinese or other passport. China does not recognize the U.S. citizenship of children born in China, when one of the parents is a PRC national. Such children are required to depart China on PRC travel documents. Children born in the United States to PRC national parents, who are neither lawful permanent residents nor U.S. citizens, are not recognized as U.S. citizens under Chinese nationality law. Although Chinese consulates have frequently issued visas to such individuals in error, they are treated solely as PRC nationals by Chinese authorities when in China. Before traveling to China, dual nationals may wish to contact the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-6769 or the U.S. Embassy in Beijing at (86-10) 532-3831 (ext. 229) for additional information. Travel to Tibet: The Chinese government requires U.S. citizens wishing to visit Tibet to apply in advance for approval from the Tourist Administration of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. More information is available through the Chinese Embassy or a Chinese Consulate in the United States. Document Seizures: Chinese authorities have seized documents, literature, and letters which they deem to be pornographic or political in nature or those which are intended for religious proselytizing. If you seek to enter China with religious materials in a quantity greater than what is considered needed for personal use, you could be detained and fined. Religious proselytizing or passing out of religious materials is strictly forbidden. Americans suspected of engaging in such activities have been fined, arrested or deported. Magazines with photographs considered commonplace in Western countries, including some advertisements, may be regarded as sexually explicit pornography. Books, films, records, tapes, etc., which are "detrimental to China's politics, economy, culture, and ethics" will be seized by Chinese Customs to determine that they do not violate these prohibitions. Entry Requirements: Passports and visas are required. Conference and NGO Forum participants require a business visa. The length of stay is determined by the amount of time requested when applying for the visa. Most tourist visas are valid for only one entry. Travelers require a new visa for additional entries into China. Chinese authorities fine those who arrive without a visa up to 5,000 renminbi (about $600 U.S.) at the port of entry and may not allow them to enter China. Specific information is available through the Chinese Embassy at 2300 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel: (202) 328-2500, or from one of the Chinese Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco. Consular Access: U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry photocopies of their passport data and photo pages with them at all times so that, if questioned by PRC officials, proof of U.S. citizenship is readily available. (Do not carry your original passport with you. Your passport and other valuables should be placed in a hotel safety deposit box.) U.S. consular officers are not always notified when a U.S. citizen has been detained. However, U.S. citizens have rights to consular access under the U.S. - P.R.C. Consular Convention and should insist upon contact with the U.S. Embassy or one of the U.S. Consulates General. If you are denied this right, continue to protest. Under the U.S. -P.R.C. Consular Convention of 1980, U.S. consular officers shall be notified if a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained no later than four days after the arrest or detention. Under the Convention, U.S. consular officers must be informed upon request of the reasons for the arrest or detention and have a right to visit the citizen after a formal request is made by the consular officer. Visits shall take place as soon as possible, no later than two days after the request is made. Visits may be made on a recurring basis. U.S. citizens arrested abroad are subject to the judicial process of the foreign country. Upon learning of an arrest, U.S. officials will demand consular access to you, visit you, advise you of your rights according to local laws, and contact your friends and family if you wish. They will do whatever they can to protect your interests and to ensure you are not discriminated against under local law. Consuls can protest if you are held under inhumane or unhealthy conditions or treated less favorably than others in the same situation, and will protest any such treatment. Although U.S. consular officers cannot serve as attorneys or give legal advice, they can provide a list of local English speaking attorneys you may retain and help you find legal representation. Consular officers can assist in providing emergency medical and dietary assistance when necessary and act as an intermediary in furnishing letters and packages from family members to arrested citizens through local authorities. Medical Facilities: The quality of medical and health care in China is uneven. Sanitation facilities, particularly outside Beijing, may not meet Western standards of cleanliness, convenience and accessibility. Participants should expect limited sanitary facilities at the NGO Forum site. Competent, trained doctors and nurses are available in major metropolitan centers. However, hospital accommodations are spartan and medical technology is not up-to-date. Review your health insurance policy. If your insurance does not cover you abroad, consider purchasing temporary insurance that does. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Persons taking prescription medicines or syringes into China should carry a copy of a doctor's prescription. It is wise to carry more than one pair of eyeglasses or to bring a copy of your eyeglass prescription. All travelers to China are encouraged to acquire medical insurance which covers medical evacuation from China. There are a variety of companies offering this service. The following two suggestions are not endorsements; both companies, however, have doctors and clinics in Beijing and have worked with the U.S. Embassy in the past in assisting U.S. citizens who were ill. You may wish to do comparison shopping if you are considering purchasing insurance for your trip: Asia Emergency Assistance International SOS International Seattle, Washington Philadelphia, PA Phone: 1-800-548-7762 24-hour numbers: (215) 245-4707 24-hour number: ( 206) 781-8770 or (215) 244-1500 Questions on health matters can also be addressed to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention through its international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Embassy and Consulate Locations: Americans may call or visit the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General to obtain updated information on travel and security within the country. If calling from within the United States about an emergency situation regarding a friend or relative attending the conference, you may wish to direct your initial call to the following number: Bureau of Consular Affairs Office of Overseas Citizens Services U.S. Department of State (202) 647-5226 Contact Persons: Mrs. Kerry Holmes-De Haven Ms. Robin Morritz If you are in China and are involved in an emergency situation, the following information may be of assistance to you. U.S. Embassy Beijing 2 Xiu Shui Dong Jie, Beijing 100600 The principal points of contact for emergency matters related to the welfare and well-being of American citizens in China are: Mr. Arturo S. Macias Minister-Counsellor for Consular Affairs Consul General and Mr. Daniel W. Piccuta First Secretary and Consul Chief, American Services During normal business hours, both gentlemen may be reached at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing's telephone numbers. Telephone: (86-10) 532-3831 ext. 252 or 253 (86-10) 532-3831 ext. 229 (86-10) 532-3431 ext. 249 Fax: (86-10) 532-3178 For emergencies after normal business hours, contact the U.S. Embassy's 24 hour emergency number : (86-10) 532-1910 (Duty Officer) Additional Travel: In the event other travel within China is contemplated, the following information regarding locations of U.S. Consulates in China may also be of assistance: Shanghai 1469 Huaihai Zhong Lu Shanghai 200031 Telephone: (86-21) 433-6880 Fax: (86-21) 433-4122 After Hours: (86-21) 433-3936 Shenyang No. 52, 14th Wei Road Shenyang, 110003 Telephone: (86-24) 282-0038 (86-24) 282-0048 (86-24) 282-0068 Fax: (86-24) 282-0074 After Hours: Same as above Chengdu No. 4 Lingshiguan Road Chengdu 610041 Telephone: (86-28) 558-3992 (86-28) 558-9642 Fax: (86-28) 558-3520 After Hours: (86-28) 901-1899 (mobile phone) Guangzhou 1 South Shamian Street Guangzhou 510133 Telephone: (86-20) 886-2418 (86-20) 886-2402 (ext. 256) Fax: (86-20) 886-2341 After Hours: (86-20) 900-4511 (mobile phone) Hong Kong 26 Garden Road Hong Kong Telephone: (852) 2841-2211 Fax: (852) 2845-4845 Consular Information Program: The Department of State issues Public Announcements as a means to disseminate information quickly about transnational conditions which pose problems for U.S. citizen travelers. You can listen to them 24 hours a day by calling 202-647-5225 from a touchtone phone. To receive them by fax, dial 202-647-3000 from a fax machine, using the machine's receiver, and follow the instructions. To view and download with a personal computer and modem, dial the Consular Affairs Bulletin Board on modem number 202-647-9225. Set your communications software to: no parity, 8 bits, one stop bit (N-8-1). (###)