The Chinese authorities are limiting visas to Hong-Kong. Starting from last week no multiple-entry tourist visas are available until this summer’s Olympic Games are over. Some travel agents report that the reason for these changes is the Beijing Olympics, which will take place from 8th till 24th of August. It is supposed that after the Olympics are over, the visa problems will be settled.

The new regulation negatively affects all foreigners who do business in Hong-Kong. They are obliged to cross the border each time for getting visa which appears to be rather expensive. The Wall Street Journal commented on the development.

“We have members who go back and forth [to China] a couple of times a week,” said Richard Vuylsteke, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. If it is true that issuance of multiple-entry visa has been stopped, “this is a genuine inconvenience for businesses,” Mr. Vuylsteke said.

For the time being, the foreigners will be able to only obtain single or double-entry visas which are not valid for more than three months. Although Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu has announced that China has not stopped issuing multiple-entry visas, she didn’t give any explanations why the visas are suddenly available.

Photo:© kk+

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