Consular News 23 Sep 2005
China Travel Advice - updated 22 September 2005
Dear Australians in south China
I wish to advise that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s travel advice for China was updated on 22 September 2005. This advice can be found at the following website address:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/China
The China travel advice is also copied below.
Travel Advice
from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
China
This Advice is current for Thursday, 22 September 2005.
The Advice was issued on Thursday, 22 September 2005, 17:37:07, AEST.
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information on health issues. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
Australians in the People's Republic of China are advised to be alert to their own security. As you would in Australia, use common sense and be alert to suspicious activities.
Safety and Security
Terrorism
Australian travellers should be aware of the threat of terrorism globally and should read this travel advice in conjunction with the General Advice to Australian Travellers
(http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/advice/General).
Civil Unrest/Political Tension
There are strictly enforced regulations regarding participation in public demonstrations, particularly those of a political nature. Violators are likely to be subject to legal action that may include detention, deportation, arrest and imprisonment.
Personal Security
Petty crime, particularly pick-pocketing and purse snatching directed at foreigners, continues to increase. Resisting the perpetrators can lead to violence. Foreigners have been beaten and robbed, particularly in popular expatriate bar areas of Beijing and Shanghai.
Prior to travel, Australians should ensure they have a variety of financial options available to them including credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash. Australians should consult their automatic teller machine (ATM) card provider for information about overseas services and availability. Not all overseas ATMs accept Australian cards.
Australians should only carry sufficient cash for their daily needs, secure their valuables against theft and avoid displays of wealth at all times. Photocopies of valuables such as passport, tickets, driving licence and travellers' cheques should be kept separately from the originals.
15/F, Main Building, Guangdong International Hotel, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu, Guangzhou 510098, PRC
Telephone: 86 20 8335 5911
Facsimile: 86 20 8335 0718
Website: www.china.embassy.gov.au/guangzhou
Parents planning to place their children in schools or child care facilities overseas are encouraged to research and satisfy themselves about the standards of security, care and staff training of those establishments. Parents should exercise the same precautions they take before placing children into schools or child care facilities in Australia. Useful ideas on how to select child care providers are available at http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/children/, http://www.childwise.net and http://www.ncac.gov.au.
You are required by law to report a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible. If your passport (http://www.passports.gov.au/) is lost or stolen overseas, report it online (http://www.passports.gov.au/Web/renewal/lost_stolen.aspx) or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate (http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html) as soon as possible. As of 1 July 2005, you need to pay an additional fee to have it replaced. In some cases, the Government may restrict the length of validity or type of replacement document. Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place.
In the event of a lost or stolen passport being replaced while in China, travellers are required to obtain a replacement Chinese visa from local immigration authorities. Failure to do so will likely result in delays to departure from China. The processing time for a replacement Chinese visa varies. The Australian Embassy or Consulate can not intervene on behalf of travellers.
Local Conditions
Travel and living conditions vary greatly between developed city areas and less developed rural areas. Access to essential items, banking and communication facilities may be limited in rural areas. Driving in China can be hazardous due to poor quality roads and local driving practices. The safety standards that Australians might expect from tour operators and public buses, particularly in rural areas, are unlikely to be met.
China is in an active seismic zone and is subject to earthquakes. The rainy season occurs between April and October. Severe rainstorms can cause flooding which may interrupt essential services. Typhoons can occur along the southern and eastern coasts. Travellers should monitor weather reports when travelling in affected areas. In the event of a natural disaster, local authorities will provide advice.
Local Law and Customs
Australians are reminded that when overseas, they are subject to local laws. Local laws and legal processes can be very different from those in Australia. A violation of local laws may result in a jail sentence, served in a local prison. Consular assistance cannot override local law, even where local laws may appear harsh or unjust by Australian standards. There are severe penalties for all drug offences, including, in some cases, the death penalty.
Australians of Chinese origin should travel on their Australian passport, obtain a visa for China and present themselves as Australians at all times. The Chinese government does not recognise dual nationality and will not allow consular access by the Australian Embassy to Australians detained by Chinese authorities if they have entered China on a Chinese passport, a Hong Kong or Macau identity card or another non-Australian foreign passport. Consular access is however, allowed to those who have entered on Australian passports.
Failure to maintain a valid visa may incur a fine of 500 RMB per day and/or detention. Australians intending to work in China are advised to review conditions carefully and ensure that all visa requirements are met, This usually requires a 'Z-class' visa and a Chinese residence permit.
Foreigners are required to register their place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. This is done as part of the check-in process in hotels. Foreigners staying with family or friends in a private home must also comply with this requirement. Failure to do so can result
in fines and/or detention. Foreigners are required to carry evidence of identity at all times and present it upon demand of police authorities. A passport or a Chinese residence card is an acceptable form of identity.
Travellers are permitted to travel only in areas open to foreigners in China. Travel near military installations and some border areas is restricted.
Visits to Tibet, and many remote areas not normally open to foreigners, require a permit. Ordinarily, only travellers in organised tour groups are permitted to travel to the Tibetan region of China. Falungong activities are banned in China. Participants in Falungong activities or Falungong related demonstrations contravene Chinese laws and can expect to be dealt with according to those laws. Penalties include detention, deportation, arrest and imprisonment.
Some Australian criminal laws, including - but not limited to - those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, have extraterritorial effect. Australians who commit such offences outside of Australia may be prosecuted in Australia for those offences.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Entry and Exit Requirements
Australians intending to visit China must be in possession of a passport which is valid for at least six months after the duration of intended stay, and a return or onward airline ticket. A visa is required for all travellers to China whether it is for tourism, business, employment or study purposes and all visitors should ensure they obtain a visa that is appropriate for the purpose of their visit. It is very difficult to obtain visas at Chinese border entry points.
Travellers should be aware that Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions with separate visa and entry administration. Travellers who exit mainland China to visit those destinations may require a new Chinese visa if they wish to re-enter mainland China. Some travel permits, issued in Hong Kong or at Hong Kong-Macau-Chinese mainland border crossings, are valid for limited travel to special areas only such as Shenzhen, Zhuhai or other areas in Guangdong Province. It is illegal to use these permits to travel onwards to other parts of China.
Visa conditions are subject to change. For up-to-date visa information on entry requirements for China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Tibet, Australians should contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of China (http://www.dfat.gov.au/protocol/), well in advance of travel.
Health Issues
The Ministry of Health in China has confirmed a number of human deaths and numerous cases of infection by Streptococcus suis, a species of bacterium often found where pigs are raised. Virtually all cases have occurred in Sichuan province in adult male farmers. Information reported to the World Health Organisation suggests that close contact with diseased or dead pigs is the principal source of human infection. To date, Chinese health authorities have found no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Outbreaks of avian influenza amongst birds, including chickens and ducks, have been reported in China. In September 2005 the Australian Government decided as a precautionary measure to stockpile the antiviral medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and protective face masks at its missions in China for the use of staff and their families in the event of a widespread outbreak of avian influenza amongst humans. Australians should read this travel advice in conjunction with our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Quarantine measures in China include a health and quarantine declaration and a body temperature check as required. In some cases, an additional medical examination may be required. Travellers believed to be infected with SARS may be referred to a local hospital for additional tests or treatment, which may interupt travel plans.
Quarantine requirements vary throughout the provinces and municipalities in China. The nearest
Embassy or Consulate of the People's Republic of China can provide detailed information.
Japanese Encephalitis (also known as Encephalitis B), a mosquito-borne disease, is endemic in rural areas of Southern China from June to August. Travellers intending to visit rural areas should consult their doctor or a travel clinic for information on vaccinations prior to departure.
Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Xinjiang, and western Sichuan are situated at altitudes over 3000 metres. Travellers in these areas may suffer from altitude sickness.
A health declaration card must be completed upon arrival in China. HIV-positive status is grounds for refusal of entry or deportation. Individuals applying for permanent residence, or intending to stay or study for longer than one year, must produce an HIV/AIDS test certificate on arrival (approved by a Chinese Embassy or Consulate abroad) or undergo a test within 20 days of arrival.
HIV/AIDS is a significant concern in China. There is a risk of exposure to unsafe blood and blood products in regional China. Travellers may need to specifically request the use of sterilised equipment. Additional charges may be incurred for the use of new syringes in hospitals or clinics.
For information on prevalent diseases and inoculations, travellers should consult their doctor, travel clinic or the World Health Organization (WHO). Further information can be found in our 'Travelling Well' brochure.
Travel and Health Insurance
The standard of medical care and range of familiar medicines available in China is limited, particularly outside of major cities. Payment prior to the provision of medical services, including emergency care, is usually required. Medical evacuation from China is very expensive.
Travel and health insurance is strongly recommended for all overseas travel. Travellers should check with their insurer to make sure that their policy meets their needs. In particular, insurance should have provisions for itinerary delays and for medical evacuation, particularly from remote locations such as Tibet. Local travel and bus operators may not carry accident liability insurance. Travellers should seek advice from their insurer on what type of circumstances and activities are the subject of exclusions in their policy.
Consular Assistance and Registration
Australians may obtain consular assistance from the: Australian Embassy
21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Sanlitun, Beijing 100600
Telephone (86 10) 5140 4111
Facsimile (86 10) 5140 4292
Website http://www.china.embassy.gov.au
Australian Consulate General
Level 22, CITIC Square
1168 Nanjing Xi Lu
Shanghai 200041
Telephone (86 21) 5292 5500
Facsimile (86 21) 5292 5511
Website http://www.china.embassy.gov.au/shanghai
Australian Consulate General
Room 1509
Main Building
Guangdong International Hotel
339 Huanshi Dong Lu
Guangzhou 510098
Telephone: (86 20) 8335 0909 (visa enquiries only)
(86 20) 8335 5911 (non visa enquiries)
Facsimile: (86 20) 8335 0718
Website: http://www.china.embassy.gov.au/guangzhou
All Australians travelling to China, whether for tourism or business or for short or long stays, are encouraged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australians can register in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate
(http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html) or on-line (http://www.orao.dfat.gov.au/). The registration information provided by you will help us to find you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family emergency.
Australians planning travel and those overseas are encouraged to monitor our travel advice updates, including through use of our free subscription service, at smartraveller.gov.au.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
Other Useful Advice:
Travel Advice FAQ: http://www.dfat.gov.au/advice_meaning.html
General: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/General
Visas: http://www.dfat.gov.au/visas
Brochures: http://www.dfat.gov.au/order_brochure.html
Hints for Travellers: http://www.dfat.gov.au/hints
Travelling by Sea: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/shipping_and_ports
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
Copyright Commonwealth of Australia: http://www.dfat.gov.au/copyright.html
Disclaimer: http://www.dfat.gov.au/disclaim.html
Privacy: http://www.dfat.gov.au/privacy.html
Yours sincerely
Kelli-Ann Kerin
Consul