Guangdong targeting illegal immigrants

• Source: Global Times
• [03:47 December 16 2009]
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Among foreigners employed or running businesses in Guangzhou, 69 percent do not have legal permits, statistics show. Most of them are engaged in work related to education, culture, sports, housework and service industries.

Criminal cases involving non-Chinese citizens are also increasing in Guangdong.

Between January and May, Guangdong authorities arrested 37 drug smugglers from foreign nations, which were 1.5 times the total arrested last year, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Other big cities, including Beijing, are also feeling the impact.

"Illegal migrants involved in crimes have been a barrier for our development, and we have handled a lot of such cases this year," Lin Song, a staff member with the Beijing Entry-Exit Administration, said in an interview with the Global Times Tuesday. He refused to disclose the exact number of cases.

According to the SCMP, statistics released by the Ministry of Public Security in 2005 showed that China had repatriated 63,000 illegal immigrants dating the past 10 years.

The Guangdong authorities have taken measures to deal with the problem, such as intensifying efforts against foreigners' illegal acts and setting up legal employment services for non-Chinese citizens.

"Laws and regulations for the management of non- Chinese citizens are lagging behind, so the government is improving related laws, such as the Law on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens, which will be submitted to the NPC Standing Committee at the end of 2010," director Ouyang said.