According to an official at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ottawa, Chinese citizens travelling overseas must present a valid passport and visa for the country of destination to an immigration official, before being allowed to exit China (11 Oct. 2005). Without elaborating, the official noted that this procedure is standard at all international airports in the country.

A representative of the Canadian Embassy in Beijing provided the following observations on exit controls at Chinese airports in 4 October 2005 correspondence to the Research Directorate. Separate inspection barriers at airports are designated for Chinese citizens, foreign travellers, diplomatic staff, and airline personnel. The Frontier Defense Inspection Bureau (FDIB) is in charge of the inspection barriers, and FDIB officers examine the passports and immigration departure cards of Chinese travellers. The officers also verify the identity of the person through a "computerised record system." Chinese travellers do not need to present their resident identity card during the inspection. According to information contained on the Website of Air China, there is a Frontier Defense Inspection station at each of the 115 Chinese ports currently open for international departures and arrivals (n.d.).

Information retrieved from the Website of Beijing Capital International Airport indicates that Chinese citizens travelling overseas are required to show a valid passport, an "exit registration form" and an exit certificate for inspection (n.d.). Security staff will also check travellers' boarding cards, airline tickets, passports and "voucher of airport construction charge" (Beijing Capital International Airport n.d.). Further information on exit control procedures at Beijing Airport could not be found among sources consulted within time constraints.

The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Control of Exit and Entry of Citizens stipulates that the following categories of persons will not be granted permission to leave the country:

Defendants in criminal cases or criminal suspects confirmed by a public security organ, a people's procuratorate or a people's court;

Persons who, as notified by a people's court, shall be denied exit owing to involvement in unresolved civil cases;

Convicted persons serving their sentences;

Persons undergoing rehabilitation through labour; and

Persons whose exit from the country will, in the opinion of the competent department of the State Council, be harmful to state security or cause a major loss to national interests (PRC 22 Nov. 1985, Art. 8).

Article 9 of the Law states that

frontier inspection offices shall have the power to stop persons belonging to any of the following categories from leaving the country and to deal with them according to law:

(1) holders of invalid exit certificates;

(2) holders of exit certificates other than their own; and

(3) holders of forged or altered exit certificates (PRC 22 Nov. 1985).

In early July 2005, inspection staff at Hangzhou airport in Zhejiang Province uncovered two fake passports on an overseas Chinese traveller, who reportedly admitted he was paid to help stow away two residents from Fujian Province (BBC Monitoring 30 Aug. 2005).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Air China. N.d. "Border Check and Security Check: Frontier Defense Inspection of the People's Republic of China." http://www.airchina.com.cn/en/fh/4_3.htm [Accessed 12 Oct. 2005]

Beijing Capital International Airport. N.d. "Passengers Guides: International Departures." http://www.bcia.com.cn/en/passengers_departure_int_page.html [Accessed 6 Sept. 2005]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Monitoring. 30 August 2005. "Crime in China, Jun-Jul 05." (Factiva)

Canadian Embassy in Beijing. 4 October 2005. Correspondence from a representative.

Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ottawa. 11 October 2005. Interview with a representative.

People's Republic of China. 22 November 1985. Law on the Control of the Exit and Entry of Citizens. (Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in New York). http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/eng/lsqz/laws/t42218.htm [Accessed 13 Oct. 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: China Internet Information Center, Fuzhou Airport, Shanghai Airport.