HAPPY NUTS + MONOLITHIC STEAK

Yummy !

Actually a little bit lost in translation - the happy nuts are real exact translated from mandarin.

For the "monolithic steak" it was meant a steak on the hot stone. Pictures are made with Iphone
thats why the quality is only so so .......Besides this in the restaurant in a little place in Shi Long(take the train from Lowu to GZ - second station is Shi Long) the hot pot stone beef rice for RMB 30 was GREAT !

MERRY CHRITMAS

sorry maybe there is a typing arror - but you know what I mean.
Thank you for reading this blog - see you again !

"5 STAR HOTEL" in Jiangsu Province

Recently been several times to some very small place in Jiangsu Province - the birth town of Tschou En Lai (sorry if I am writing the name wrong). Stayed in a very new openend 5 Star Hotel - RMB 380 / night - free internet - hot pot buffet RMB 49 / person (quite good - a lot of choices). But some things somehow confused me - the overall quality of the workmanship on the rooms - it did not look like it is just 1 month old - see the pictures above - it doesnt make you sleep bad if there are scratches on the window frames or door frames but somehow it is not really 5 Star then ....right ? I am not picky - but it is quite interesting to see the standard of workmanship and the idea that this is maybe already good enough.

Have a good week .....

and enjoy some "oldie" performed in a very new way:
TELSTAR played on an APPENDAGE ribbon controller

FINANCIAL CRISIS ? NOT ARRIVED IN CANTON ROAD YET

Saturday 13.12. afternoon in Canton Road. The pictures are slightly blurred - it doesn't matter. From top to last one: PRADA (this is actually not really a queue - 2 people only), HUGO BOSS in Harbour City, then GUCCI (the queue was around the corner into the initial part of the parking garage) - last not least LV.
"SALES" started earlier than ever this year everywhere - only at LV there was not any visible sign at the outside that there are some items on sale or similar hints. In JOYCE the people were "seduced" with free Champagne. Cheers !

APEC CARD

Finally got all pre-clearance for the APEC card - excluding USA, Russia, Canada + "Chinese Taipei". But this 4 "economies", according to the friendly officer from the Immigration Deptmt anyhow will never be pre-cleared.
So 2 weeks later it will be ready to pick-up.
To finish the whole process it was almost 6 months, but I think it is worth doing this.
The APEC card is valid for 3 years and the price here in HK is HKD 427. If you compare how much a 6 month multiple entry visa for China costs then this card comes really very cheap and does not waste the pages in the passport. The application is not very complicate: provide company info, reason why need to go to some of the APEC member economies, some copies from your passport and business registration. And then simply wait. as the economic downturn is in full swing most probably the applications will be getting more easy and approved faster.
The card is valid for following economies (normally at least up to 60 days per stay):
Australia Brunei Darussalam Chile China Indonesia Japan Korea (South) Malaysia
Mexico New Zealand Papua New Guinea Peru Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam
See the link here and you just need to click through the page and then you will find the info how to apply here in Hong Kong.
http://www.businessmobility.org/

WELCOME TO NANJING !

Here the official leaflet "Guide for Foreigners regarding their Stay in Nanjing". Just click on it then it is easy to read.

Some changes

Blog name changed + sub title .more will come soon about some China madness and "sillyness"

Not so much !

Here a nice docu about my old friends Fleetwood Mac - they have been one of the greatest live bands - see in the middle of the doc (starting at 5.12) and then you know why...enjoy and have a good week:

MITCH MITCHELL

R.I.P. - All your friends will never forget you.

AND HERE:

Another PINK FLOYD sync......

hi all there ...just found this via http://www.matrixsynth.com/ There is part 1 & part 2 so for all who love Pink Floyd and esp "Dark Side of the Moon" and also for all who already know the "Wizard of OZ" synchro - here is the one with LOGANS RUN ...enjoy - surely nothing to do with CHINA VISA - but maybe a lot to do with the general situation - just use your fantasy:
PART 1

And here Part 2

GRAPPA FOR CHINA

A few weeks ago a friend emailed me that some friend of him from Italy will maybe contact me because they are having a big deal under going in China and somehow they are "stuck" and maybe need some advice..........Ten minutes later receiving already a phone call from Hubei Province - here is the story:
Two guys from Italy, 1 selling Grappa, his friend has a vineyard in Italy - selling wine. The Grappa guy already sold "small amounts" of his product to some distributor in Canton province. Surely Grappa is not that super easy to sell in China.
He got contacted by a huge IE corporation - they want to buy a really big qty of Grappa from him, as we was interested he also intoduced his friend with the vineyard. Yes the big IE also interested in buying huge amounts of wine from his friend.

Both of them going to Shijiazhong to meet the "managers" of this big IE (anybody want to have the name of this I/E - just contact me. It is one of the biggest I/E corporations there). Good business proposal there from the "managers":
1) 3 Containers of Grappa !
2) 20 Containers of Wine
Payment from the I/E: 30% deposit - balance against documents (never heard an IE will pay deposit..).
But as the "managers" proposed that they want to register the Grappa & Wine trademark each of the Italy guys should hand over RMB 40,000 in cash to them for the "registration".
The negotiations for the general contract took several days and in any suitable moment the "managers" of this IE reminded the 2 guys from Italy not to forget the RMB 40,000 (cash) for "registering the brand".
The last evening when they had a dinner (paid by the Italiens) - the Italy guys wanted to make some photos together with the "managers" - but this "managers" very STRICTLY refused to get pictured.
They said they are afraid that they get trouble seen on a photo in such an expensive restaurant ...(how expensive the most expensive restaurant in this place can be and why should anybody in the I/E see the photos made by the Italy guys ?)
Surely they reminded them once again to bring the RMB 40,000 in cash for the so-called "registration of the brand" the next day.
So the Italy guys never doubted about this "trade-mark registration" at all, done by the I/E, but they suggested to deduct this RMB 40,000 simply from the coming deposit. This is not "workable" because of the accounting system.
So now the Italy guys were a "little bit worried that something is maybe wrong".

My advice was:
1) Find a good excuse to get rid of this "managers" - tell them your "big, big boss" himself want to come China the next week to sign the "contract" himself.
2) Fax a copy of their "name-cards" to your Italy office.
3) Do not let them drive you back to the train station anymore for the train back to Beijing.

It is very easy:
The I/E corporation is that BIG - 15 floors or more.
You have a friend there ?
Come on - can we come visit you with some "laowei" and use 2 or 3 times one of the meeting rooms ? We will pay you something for this...........
Surely no problem. Nobody will find out - just copy the name cards with whatever "manager title" and fake names on it.......And then try to cash in the fee for the "registration" - RMB 80,000 - not too bad for just 2 or 3 days "business talks".

And then after that ?
The business for the containers of Grappa & Wine is anyhow not existing.
And the 2 guys from Italy want to call there then and get contact with this "managers" in order to settle this "big business" ? Because this "managers" never have worked there, they just wanted to "cheat out" the RMB 40,000 for the "registration".

Sorry China - sorry for this kind of people !

CHEERS !

JIMMY CARL BLACK

JUST SAYING GOOD BYE TO ALL OF US - HE IS SINGING HERE "TROUBLE EVERY DAY'- BUT IN NORMAL HE WAS A DRUMMER (MANY YEARS WITH ZAPPA):

This blog will not stop.....

.................................................even the CHINA VISA problems are mainly solved / over.

Decision is made to keep the blog "alive" - maybe not that frequent posting, but about anything interesting from Hong Kong + China together with some nice music. Blogname just stays same for the time being.

Sidebar with links will come up soon again also.

See you later.

IT IS ELECTION DAY IN THE USA !

This is copied from http://www.matrixsynth.blogspot.com/ - thanks Matrix - this clip is too good:

ITS HALLOWEEN NOT ONLY TONIGHT

YES HALLOWEEN WAS HERE TODAY BUT ALSO THE LAST WEEKS ALREADY:
1) HALLOWEEN ON EGGS FROM CHINA
2) HALLOWEEN FOR LEHMANN MINI BOND INVESTORS
3) HALLOWEEN FOR STOCK MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD
4) WHICH HALLOWEEN WE WAITING FOR ?
5) HALLOWEEN FOR THE US ELECTIONS ?
ENJOY THE ORIGINAL HALLOWEEN SOUNDTRACK FROM THE JOHN CARPENTER MOVIE HERE:

KRAFTWERK IS COMING

TO HONG KONG (1ST TIME EVER) - DECEMBER 5TH - THIS IS A FRIDAY - HKD 680 ALL STANDING.
IT IS SAID COMPLETE NEW SHOW SET UP - SEE YOU THERE.
GET SOME IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS - SEE HERE (THIS IS ALREADY SOME YEARS OLD):

PERFECT ! NOW EVERYTHING CAN BE BLAMED ON THE "FINANCIAL CRISIS".....

The recent closures of factories of SMART UNION & BEP. The closure of the TAI LIN household appliances - is all because of the "worldwide financial crisis" ?
Believe it or not you fools !
What a fool believes......DOOBIE BROTHERS:

CHINA'S APEC DUTIES

it seems thousands of approvals for APEC card's are pending from China - they are very far behind. Hurry up guys - business will not get better the next year .....Here something for the brain - electronic sounds we like ...right ?

33 COUNTRIES STILL ON THE LIST

It seems no chance for below passport holders to apply Visa either in HK, Macao or even on the mainland - still need to apply in their "home-country" as long as not being a permanent Hong KOng resident:
Afghanistan / Algeria / Bangladesh / Congo / Egypt / Gambia / Ghana / Guinea / India / Indonesia / Iran / Iraq / Kaiakhstan / Kirghiziani / Libya / Malaysia / Mali / Mauritania / Monaco / Nepal / Nigeria / Pakistan / Philippines / Saudi Arabia / Sierra Leone / South Africa / Sri Lanka / Sudan / Syrian / Tajikistan / Tunisia / Turkey / Uzbekistan
(Monaco should be Marrokko, by the way)

For this passport holders the nonsense is not over ! Probably some of this countries previous visa holders have also abused the visa law - including overstaying, running un-registered business (Guangzhou's black community ........) and whatever. It seems there is a new "spirit" in China government to clean out some of the loop-holes which made it quite easy to conduct business without any registration, without tax payments and without legal resident registration. Here something special:

satrae sant chugre from abre ojos on Vimeo.

BYE BYE

THIS IS THE TIME NOW TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO ALL OF YOU !
THE VISA NONSENSE IS OVER - CHEERS AND SEE YOU SOMEWHERE ELSE AGAIN ....ENJOY SOME NICE MUSIC - STEVIE, CHRISTINE, LINDSAY, MICK + JOHN PLAYING SARA...................

YOU WANT MORE ?

Here is CAN with I WANT MORE - a "german krautrock classics" - enjoy:

Visa categories and the requirements of supporting documents

copy from the "Commissioners Office of the Foregn Ministry of the PRC in the HK SAR":
quote
2008-09-24 -
1. L visa (for tourism or visiting relative)
I--For tourism:
Under some circumstances, the applicants may be required to provide financial proof, a copy of Chinese hotel booking and return flight ticke.
For applicants who are going to Tibet, an entry permit issued by Tibetan Tourist Bureau is required. (Fax number of Tibetan Tourist Bureau: 0086-891-6834632; Telephone number:0086-891-6834313).
II--For visiting relative in China
Proof of kinship is required, but the applicants who were born in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) as shown in the passport are exempt from this proof.
2. F visa for business and visit
(1) Visa Notification Form, or an letter issued by the company he/she is employed and the registration license of this company, or an invitation letter from the mainland company ant the registration license of this company.
(2) Under some circumstances, the applicants may be required to provide financial proof, a copy of Chinese hotel booking and return flight ticket booking.
unquote
All this is still very "polluted information", as already since more than 1 week travel agencies in HK are very busy with applying for multiple F - 6 or 12 months visas (at least for perm HK ID card holders).
Nevermind - the guy updateing this page is maybe "over-worked".
Here the full link:
http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/qzlb/

How to read a passport.......

seems quite a difficult action for some of the so-called POLICE CADETS at LoWu border.
Today crossing with the 2nd entry ...and a lot of confusion for the girl behind the counter as she could'nt find the chop for the 1st entry (too many chops in this passport) ..So she pressed the "Secret button" to the left in her cubicle and the "Supervisor" appeared and ran away with my passport (what I not really liked too much) - 10 minutes waiting and then he came back with very broken english (but very polite - really) said something like sorry and asked me to confirm that this is my second entry only with this visa. Way back in the evening the girl together with her "supervisor" studied my passport more than 5 minutes - mamma mia - what is so difficult now ?
Did you found out already only 1 post appearing on the blog - all others you need to find in the "blog archive" (right - side down.....). Here something interesting from THE SHAMEN (this doesnt represent this BLOGS AUTHORS opinion - but somehow it is quite interesting) - as far I remember somewhat mid to late 80's / early 90's - enjoy and have a nice weekend:

And here a real SHAMEN classics EBENEEZER GOODE - it is old but its goode:

NOTHING

YOUR COMMENTS + LOST ANGELES

Guys if you comment and then I release this comment it is a mess if you have comment to some post several days or even weeks ago. No time to find this comment. So please just send your comments on the very latest post - thats the most easiest and even if not 100% related to the post - never mind. If you comment to some old posts how can anybody find it to answer you ..........CHEERS
Here some music for the weekend - LOST ANGELES part 1 + 2 (total more than 15 minutes) - Colosseum live at 2003 somewhere in Germany - still quite powerfull:

AND SO ?

THE ROCKET IS UP - IT IS SUPPOSED TO COME DOWN 68 HOURS LATER !
THE MILK POWDER AND OTHER THINGS IS STILL LOUSY !
AT LOWU CHECKPOINT THEY WERE EXAMINING THE "SEAMS" OF MY PASSPORT TODAY ...............HA HA VERY FUNNY.
MY PASSPORT IS A 48 PAGES EU PASSPORT - AND SURELY ALL THE PAGES ARE ORIGINAL ...DONT KNOW HOW TO "DOCTOR" ANY PAGES IN THERE ........ONLY CHINESE CAN HAVE THE IDEA THAT SOMEBODY MAYBE "DOCTOR" PAGES IN THERE .......
CHEERS !

THE NO. 1 CHINA VISA NEWS

at least for perm HK residents.
As I was told by some high ranking official from some of the "relevant departments":
Multiple F-visa 6 months is available through some travel agents with immediate effect.
But need to have perm HK ID card.
For others it will be as already ment. several times the 16th of October dead-line.

1 more up-date + 1 more question to the HK SAR Government

here one more link to verify the 17th October dead-line for HK residents to go back to normal for multiple entry visa:
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=13280&geo=6&size=A
But also one question here: Why the HK SAR Government cannot speed up this process ?
You guys always talking a lot - why not in this case ?
Why do we all have to wait almost another 4 weeks until this nonsense is finished ?

GOOD CHINA VISA NEWS HERE

as said October 17th is the deadline - see the timer at the end of the page.
Here some more news on this:
Hong Kong China visa curbs "to go next month"
Reuters, Monday September 22 2008
HONG KONG, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Visa curbs on foreigners travelling into China via Hong Kong as part of a security clampdown during the Beijing Olympics will be lifted in October, a major travel industry association said on Monday.
Hong Kong, a gateway to China for foreign businessmen given the convenience of shuttling across the border on swiftly obtained China visas, was hit by tightened rules amid increased security months before the Games began in August.
Foreigners from dozens of countries travelling to China from Hong Kong were barred from obtaining visas in Hong Kong, having to apply in their home countries instead -- measures which were widely criticised by business groups as costly and cumbersome.
The issue of popular multiple and double-entry visas was also curtailed during the Games.
"Things will resume back to normal, like before the Olympics," said Paul Leung, president of the Hong Kong Inbound Travel Association, citing discussions he'd had with Chinese tourism officials. He put the date at Oct. 16.
Leung added a popular "144-hour" visa would again be issued in Hong Kong for groups of at least three foreigners into China's manufacturing heartland of Guangdong, where many businessmen run factories and offices and attend trade fairs.
"These past two months have been very quiet because a lot of visitors didn't bother coming, so now that things are opening up again it will be good for all parties concerned," Leung added.
CHEERS !

Jiang Yu: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have an announcement to make.

Now the floor is open for your questions.
Q: Our Foreign Ministry in Singapore has received a notice about how China will reinstate the visa waiver for Singapore passport holders for a period of 15 days or less? I'd like to ask whether all the visa restrictions imposed during the Olympics have been lifted and China's visa policy has come back to pre-Olympic period?
A: As you just said, as of the zero hours of September 19, China will resume the visa waiver for Singapore passport holders who travel to China for business, sightseeing, visit or transit for 15 days or less. China's visa policy will continue to serve national interest and facilitate China-foreign exchanges in the wake of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We will continue to pursue opening-up policy and proactively facilitate the beneficial and orderly exchanges between Chinese and foreigners. For specific requirements for visa application, please refer to visa-issuing authorities where you apply.
(On September 18, 2008, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu held a regular press conference and answered questions on the second "Summer Davos", China's visa policy after the Olympics...............)

Enjoy

not milk or any ice cream better for the next days .......let the "officials + the relevant departments drink it" CHEERS !
Here a HALLOWEEN CUT FROM 1976 - Fleetwood Mac with Rhiannon - they def. did not drink Sanlu milk at this evening - they had something better - watch especially from 3.05 till 3.55 guitar + bass + keyboards + a really awesome Stevie Nicks.
Have a nice weekend:

The "Art" of misleading the People.....

very well developed by officials in China.
Main response on critical questions ...."please refer to the relevant department".
Please be reminded we are in the year 2008 not in 1978 anymore. Want to play a global role ?
Better adjust the way of communication.
A frequent reader has forwarded some communication between the Foreign Ministry of the PRC in HK about the recent changes (stating that HK perm residents w foreign passports can obtain a 1 - 3 year multiple F-Visa by supplying original HK ID + copy) on their webpage regarding "CHINA VISA" requirements: Always good for a joke...........
quote
...................................
I am a Hong Kong permanent resident with german passport.
According to your webpage as a HK permanent resident
I can apply for China multiple F visa for 1 or 2 years with copy of my HK ID card + original +
passport. Please confirm clear as I soon need a new
China Visa.
Here the answer:
Please refer the following info to get prepared if you need to apply for multiple F visa , 1. Valid passport (at least six months before expiration) with blank visa pages.
2. Completed Chinese visa application form, one passport color photograph taken in the last six months. False information or failing to complete the application form will cause rejection or delays of your application.
3 Visa Notification Form issued by authorized Foreign Affairs Office or Bureau of Commerce(original),;
4 A copy of Chinese hotel booking;
5 A copy of return flight ticket booking;
6. Hong Kong Permanent ID card (original and photocopy)
7. other supporting documentation, e.g. Registration Certificate of your company in China, etc Multiple-entry visa is issued at the discretion of the consular officers.
OOOPS - but the info on the webpage is somewhat different....here the follow up after asking why then this info on the webpage is saying different:
"This is additional requirement" !
unquote
Enjoy some kind of good music at least better than all this "hanky-panky" communication - CAN with VITAMIN C (C = for corruption - cheers to all Yili + Sanlu and others)

SOME MORE "CHINA VISA NEWS"

need to be verifyed as this looks more like an advertisement - but anyhow here for you to read (have received this by email today):
quote
Great News!
Now that the Olympic games are over - China seems to keep it's promise.
Starting from October 2008 the 12-month-multiple-entry business visa will be available again.
As before, the easiest way is to get it in Hong Kong.
The "Japan Travel Agency" already confirmed that they will offer the visa starting in 2 weeks.http://www.jta.biz/chinavisa/china_visa.htm(not shown on their website yet).
Have Fun!
www.ChinaBusinessVisa.comSamurai Media Ltd., 1801 Wing On Central Building, 26 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong, 00 Central, HONG KONG
unquote

THE SANLU SLOGAN:

MANUFACTURE QUALITY DAIRY SERVE THE PEOPLE
This is written in BIG LETTERS on the headquarter of Sanlu in Shijiazhuang.
It is time to remove this slogan.

AGAIN THE MILK POWDER ...........

sorry to come with this topic again, as it is maybe not really related to the CHINA VISA POLICY. But it somehow is related in some way too. Today it was revealed 69 brands of "Made in China" milkpowder was contaminated with "Melamin".
And it seems a lot of babies are sick (very sick) because of drinking this "milk".
How comes in such a big developed country with such a "high-flying" GDP things like this can happen ?
1) Total GREED
2) Zero quality control
3) Ignorant and / or corrupted local officials
4) Zero moral and ZERO business ethics
5) 1 - 4 combined

Covering this before / during the "Olympics" causing more harm to many.
By the way: YILIN also a milk powder producer was one of the local sponsors at the "BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008": ONE WORLD - ONE MILK POWDER ? There is nothing to dream anymore.
Lets hope all this chinese "noveau riches" making a big buck on the back of the others will BURN IN HELL !
Lets hope this will be a BIG LESSON for some people in some important positions.
Angry & sad parents can move a lot and "spark some fire" - better be careful !
Here a song "dedicated" to all the ones causing this: BURN IN HELL - they will get you !

SOME MORE "CHINA VISA NEWS"

China to Issue One Year Multi-Entry Business Visa "After the October National Holiday”
Sept. 12 - Sources close to China’s Public Security Bureau have told Dezan Shira & Associates that China will relax its current strict visa issuance policies for business visas following the national holiday in October.
Beginning in the second week of October, China will start issuing one year multi-entry F visas, making it far more convenient for those traveling to China on business to enter the country. The new measures will assist with the various trade shows, such as the Canton Trade Fair, that China traditionally holds during the Autumn.
This new policy will redress the restrictions on visa issuance that were put in place prior to the Olympics, and will come as welcome news to China-bound business people visiting the country.

This is from CHINA BRIEFING: http://www.china-briefing.com/news/

GREETINGS FROM THE MOON...........

ENJOY THIS ONE AND FIND OUT YOURSELF - THE TITLE:
WEARINESS OF LIFE

FAKE MILK POWDER, MUDSLIDES AND OTHERS

what has this all to do with China Visa policies ? Or Yes - as China was looking for "top security" with the visa policies to host the "OLYMPIC GAMES" in some part of the country nothing of the "olympic spirit" has arrived.
Cheaters selling fake milk powder to the poorest and harming their babies. It was heard that this was going on already since weeks - but it seems it was "cover up" as long as possible by some corrupt officials ("maybe because of the OLYMPICS" ?). Sorry to say like this:
Too many things are still very wrong and the "marketing effect" is not very good !
Don't forget - Olympics is just a "Sports Show"...............and not a trigger to change a whole country. Cheers - have a nice weekend and listen to the music.
GUILLEMOTS - TRAINS TO BRAZIL:

SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ....

on the web page of the "Foreign Ministry of the Peoples Republic of China in the HK SAR".
http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/qtxx/
This clause has been "deleted" a few months ago and here it is again - so better go immediately and find out yourself if this is working - here is the new "old" clause:
1. Foreigners with Hong Kong permanent resident status
(1) Foreigners with Hong Kong permanent resident status can apply for "L" or "F" multiple visa valid for one to three years by providing personal Hong Kong Permanent Identification Card, as well as a copy of the said ID card.

CHEERS !

SHANGHAI DAILY REPORTS......

about a woman + "a man". The woman is most probably black and about "the man" we know nothing - but lets guess he is a "local" and found a stupid and naive foreigner for cheating.
Here the full story:
quote
Two years in city on a fake visa
By Xiao Dong 2008-9-8 NEWSPAPER EDITION
THE case of a woman said to have been staying in Shanghai illegally for more than two years after being tricked into paying for a fake visa is being investigated by the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration. The woman from West Africa, identified only as "Gana," was arrested by police at the end of last month. She entered China on a tourist visa in November 2005, and after travelling to Shanghai, heard it was possible to buy a work or study visa which would allow her to stay in the city. She paid 2,000 yuan (US$292) to a man who offered to get her such a visa, but whenever she asked about it he gave her vague answers.Eventually, in January 2006, Gana got her passport back but found it didn't contain an effective visa extension. Although she realized she had been conned, she failed to contact the exit-entry administration because her tourist visa had already expired. Soon she spent all her money and had to ask her family to send money as she wasn't able to get a job in Shanghai. She was caught by police last month.
unquote

Sorry for this - lets hope she has not to face serious consequences, as she has been conned due to not "knowing how this really works". Lets hope somebody can find "the man" and kick him in the ass - because he is the one who should get punished.

BACK TO BLACK

BACK TO BLACK

HERE THE NEXT BIG CHINA VISA SURPRISE......

for all of you holding a Z-Visa (work visa / work permit) because you are really legally working in China & everything is registered properly !
Be aware for your renewal you unfortunately have to go to your home country and to your local "police station" to get a letter that you have no criminal record (Certificate of Conduct) and then this must be authenticated by the China Embassy of your home-country.
Cheers ! Very creative idea.
This rule is now first for Guangdong - but most probably the rest will follow later.
It seems they want (focus on) to get out the Philippino, Indian & African people there in Guangdong. But nobody knows what is really behind this.
This is a major difficulty for many of you, because for example if you leave Germany for a China job and you unregister your residence status and tax number - you are not "existing" anymore for your local police station.
You will face big difficulties in timing to get both of this - you need to apply directly with the FEDERAL OFFICE FOR JUSTICE - more info below. So be prepared and apply this asap - not in last minute.
Here some part of the story and at the end the link to the complete story:
quote
Under the amended rules, foreigners applying for - or renewing - work visas (Z visas) must additionally submit a certificate from a police station in their home country - and authenticated by the Chinese embassy in that country - declaring that the applicant does not have a criminal record.
Initially, the additional paperwork requirement will apply only for foreign workers in Guangdong, the booming province in southern China that's better known as the "world's factory floor". But given that Guangdong has always been a "laboratory" for China's economic and administrative reforms, the provision is certain to be implemented nationwide, reckon immigration lawyers and business consultants.
unquote
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14751073
To make this a little bit more even it is maybe highly recommended that the EU implement a similar measure for chinese people applying visas - for example for students who want to enjoy the advantage to study in Europe because Daddy has enough money.
Approval letter in the language of the country they want to study and this one must be approved by the local police station of this country.
Just stay in China and enjoy your local education system - it is 100% gold medal status !
China Daddy can save a lot of money.
Here a link for german passport-holders to apply the "Certificate of Conduct" from abroad:
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/missions/consulates/chicago/conduct.pdf
and this one:
http://www.bundesjustizamt.de/cln_101/nn_257944/DE/Themen/Strafrecht/BZR/BZRInhalte/WohnortA__eng.html This letter can be only issued in german language. Now you need to get the authentication from this "China Embassy" in your home country. Maybe this can work:
Once you have the "Certificate of Conduct" authorize a relative in your home country to get this paper from the local "China Embassy" in your home country. Problem is that there are not so many China Embassy's for example in Germany - so if you live on the very countryside be aware getting this approval will include some local travelling.
Here a hint for the "China Visa Designers":
This "Certification of Conduct" will be normally issued by the "Federal Office of Justice" and not by a "police station".

GREETINGS TO THE VISA DESIGNERS

HEY YOU SUPER SMART GUYS ! HOW YOU DOING ? DESIGNING VISA POLICY ? OR TAKING A REST......
Take this one - maybe it helps for some understanding:
Some of our courier companies is totally stuck in Shenzhen customs - some "Olympic issues"...as we have been told...the bribing will take effect only on thursday or friday we have been told (a few hundred RMB will make it) .....then the stupid few pieces of garments will go back to the china factory to correct the things they have done wrong.
It took more then 1 week to get this shit settled ..........................................
Thats the way it works Mr Hu & Mr Wen - or are you still DREAMING ???
Now please tell us who DO WE NEED TO BRIBE TO GET OUR NORMAL VISA BACK - the bidding is opened herewith:
1st bid = HKD 10,000 to counter girl no. 5 - forget the request for airticket and and hotel booking and invite her for a nice dinner somewhere at a really expensive place ...like Kee Club or CineCitta - at least something to impress this little soldier.
KICK OUT THE JAMS - in bad quality - very noisy - enjoy !

BYE BYE POLL + RESULTS

POLL IS DELETED.

"THE CHINA VISA POLICY MUST COME BACK TO NORMAL":

YES 93% (982 VOTES) - NO 7% (69 VOTES) = TOTAL 1,051 VOTES

SEE ALSO THE COUNTRY ANALYSIS HERE - CLICK ON IT TO SEE IN NORMAL VIEWING FORMAT. THE COUNT ON THE COUNTRY ANALYSIS IS LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL FIGURE AS THIS TOOL WAS ONLY INSTALLED A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE POLL STARTED.

FOR THE ONES VOTED WITH "NO" CAN HAVE ONLY 3 EXPLANATIONS:
A) THEY DO NOT NEED A CHINA VISA.

B) THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW IMPORTANT FOR MANY A CHINA VISA IS.

C) THEY CANNOT READ ENGLISH OR MIXED UP "NO" WITH "YES".

BEST OF POLL COMMENTS !

As the Poll will be removed soon, here some of the best comments from the last months on the POLL comment page:
Next Stop Vietnam
Apr 25, 2008 7:12am ET
I live in HK and make high end electronics with fussy requirements. Normally I go to Shenzhen 3 days a week. Sometimes every day. I just set up a new company, hired a Chinese engineering manager and had planned to have a new office up and running by May 1. The visa situation has put me in a tight spot has made me look for a Plan B, so I booked a flight to Vietnam and just spent a week scouting out factories. What I saw impressed me. Vietnam is more expensive that China but the quality of labour force is higher and they pride themselves on attention to detail. It will be 3-5 years before they challenge China on high end electronic manufacture but with the Intel factory being built and Hon Hai setting up there the snowball is just starting to roll down the hill. This visa nonsense will just speed up the process as publically listed companies currently manufacturing everything in China MUST now look for a Plan B to lower their political risk. The impact to China will be limited for years but billions of dollars of investment that would have been spent in China is not now going to happen and Vietnam will emerge as a rival in juicy, high margin business much faster than would otherwise be the case.
Gweilo
May 10, 2008 10:13pm ET
Next time one of these so called business leaders makes an appeal to foreign business people to support China, I'll say sure - PLEASE TAKE A NUMBER and HERE'S A LINK TO OUR WEBSITE which has contradictory information.
Richard
Jun 25, 2008 3:42am ET
If we were to wait for our Hong Kong Government Officials to seriously go to bat for us who are so badly impacted by this ridiculous China Visa Policy, we'd may as well wait till the "cows come home". Have we not noticed that all Senior Government Officials DO NOT hold foreign passports? This dliemma that we now face is obviously not a concern for any of them personally so why risk alienating Central Government and perhaps lose their rich and cushy jobs? This may be a real issue for us to ask for full democaracy in Hong Kong so that these officials will serve the people of Hong Kong and NOT some bureaucrats in motherland.
Greek Guy in Hong Kong
Jul 24, 2008 11:15pm ET
No need for normal things in China, especially Visas, China is ruled by Chinese and as such they wake up in the morning and decide on some ridiculous nonsense and still think they can make money out of us foreigners. I decidd to shift all my business to Vietnam and let the Chiense enjoy themselves
FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS READING THIS - A REALLY NICE ONE HERE:
DAVID BOWIE - 5 YEARS

OLYMPIC ELEMENTS REMOVED

Its enough now with the "OLYMPICS".
Therefore all the elements like medal table etc. are removed. Later you will get the "best of the best" comments on the poll comment site.
Cheers - and enjoy some music to headstart into your weekend !
Mr Buddy Rich is coming up with another "olympic discipline": cooking the drums 1970 - it is to doubt China could get a gold in this dicipline:

And here 17 years later the same Mr. Buddy Rich. Introduced by Frank Sinatra. One of the last performances of Mr. Rich - be assured he was a real master !

VOTING WILL BE HERE FOR THE LAST TIME

say bye bye to the voting now - do it now or never:

ITS OVER ....THE SPECIAL MEDALS HERE

the GAMES are over - here THE VISA MAN special medals:

GOLD: To all chinese athlets winning and cashing in a lot of RMB which was surely not any motivation.

SILVER: To the athlets taking at least some of the GOLD away.

BRONZE: To the closing ceremony - dull and boring far beyond what was the opening ceremony.

The special medal: RUSTY IRON for the visa policies of the "relevant departments - destroying many business.

The super special medal: STINKY TOFU for the HK SAR not having the guts to open the mouth against the very very unreasonable visa policies.

Did Jimmy Page at the closing ceremony really play or was it playback ? At least here you can see him really play (this was already posted once - but it is worth to be posted again): IMMIGRANT SONG by the Zeps in the early days:

The "Games" are almost over.

Don't care who won what ever many medals - it is a success for China - they could show up - Congratulations !

Was there any business man posing a "threat to the environment" ?
Was there any business man wearing some "suspicious" t-shirts ?
Can some of the "relevant authorities" let us know how the "china visa" problem will improve asap ?

THE GARY GLITTER VISA ?

So we all want to be Gary Glitter now - according to the TELEGRAPH - please read this:
quote
He will apply for a tourist visa at Hong Kong airport, which can be issued in under six hours and will allow him to travel across China.
unquote
Thats maybe a little bit very much wishful thinking. The TELEGRAPH should know that this is not that easy.
You arrive in HK and then get a tourist visa to travel across China within six hours .........Please tell me how this is working.
Here the full story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/2591618/Gary-Glitter-flies-to-Hong-Kong-from-Thailand.html
Besides this it was heard already that "Hong Kong dont want to take him". So we will read a lot the next days of some Mr Gadd maybe stuck at HK Airport and his "magical 6 hours china visa application". Maybe he want to watch the closing party in Beijing ?
Maybe his captain talking to him now - will he be closer to home when arriving in HK ?
Please see the people in the audience ! This is GRAND FUNK RAILROAD 1971 at the SHEA STADIUM and this is here: 123-01 Roosevelt AvenueFlushing, New York 11368-1699

DIE MENSCH MASCHINE

as no news on the "china visa problem" here voting first and then enjoy THE MAN MACHINE - somehow a little bit related to all the guys "doing" the OLYMPICS. Listen to the heavy synths - can you see them all jumping like little robots ?

GET SOME RADIOACTIVITY

TO POWER UP THE START OF THE WEEK. KRAFTWERK PLAYING FOR YOU:

"THE CHINA VISA" + BUSINEES IN BEIJING

GOING FOR GOLD - the Beijing business is not that "golden":
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11920899&fsrc=RSS
And here from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China:
Press and Media Service Thu, 14 Aug 2008:
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang's Regular Press Conference on August 13, 2008:
Q: Why did the Chinese Government revoke the visa of Mr. Cheek, member of Team Darfur of the US, who was planning to hold demonstrations in China for the Darfur issue?
A: Granting visa is a sovereign affair of one country. According to relevant Chinese laws and previous practices of the Olympics and other large-scale international events, we have made appropriate arrangements on the issue of entry visas during the Olympics, with an aim to provide a safe environment for athletes and spectators from all over the world.

I not really care who wants to demonstrate against whatever - but the explanation in generally is somewhat very weak.
Even if this Mr. Cheek would have done a "demonstration" - for how long this would have been lasted ?
And how much this "demonstration" would have bothered the safe environment for athletes and spectators from all over the world ?
And what has this all to do with the many "appropriate arrangments" (visa refusals and non-existing F Visa) for thousands of business people coming to China on a regular base and not "planning any demonstrations" ? There was nothing appropriate at all....................................
Here see a night flight over a big city - but it is not Beijing or Shanghai or Hong Kong:
BLADE RUNNER to light up your Sunday..........................................................................

NOTHING TODAY

CHING A LING

yes everybody chasing the TABLE .....lets wait and see final results. At least the refusals for CHINA VISA APPLICATIONS IS GOLD MEDAL STATUS !
In the meantime contact the MEDAL TABLE on the right side. Voting here first and then see some rehearsal for the closing ceremony - secretly recorded in Beijing. Missy Elliot will def be part of the SHOW.

Some more comments on China Visa, the Games + the Media

please read the link - it is a rather neutral and fair comment not hurting anybody's feelings - here the part regarding the "china visa policy - title of the story:
Are the Media Being too Mean to China?
quote
Foreign guests are here, too, but fewer than Beijing had hoped for, thanks in part to self-defeating visa policies.)
unquote
Full link here - please enjoy:
http://www.slate.com/id/2197254/entry/2197257/

Not Visa related

RIP MR ISAAC HAYES.

GREETINGS FROM MR SID VICIOUS !

CHINA is busy to grab the medals and improve the security at tourist spots in Beijing to avoid guys runnig around with knives there. Surely chefs from local kitchens is an exception.
But it is only 3 days now - lets wait the end of the day and see who really grabs most of them. At least it is looking like it is really "China Games"....some "bad foreign press" is reporting the stadiums are half empty even if 100% was declared SOLD OUT.
So maybe some corrupt ticket dealers and their "suppliers" simply needed to draw back from selling - this could be one reason. Be sharp and clear:
There is a BLACK MARKET of tickets but in the cause of naivity of some "smart" chinese re-sellers maybe the deal did not work out like it was supposed to.
PLEASE SEE THE MEDAL TABLE AT THE RIGHT SIDE !
About "china visa news" there is not any news at all. Just waiting all this nightmare is over soon and the visa designers start to design a "new collection". Very much appreciate the creativity of this designers.
Here some delightment for people just want to enjoy something nice whatever race and whatever medal hunter you are !
SID VICIOUS - MY WAY (uncut version - a little bit violent but you need to stand it). SID will not apply for any china visa. He is the guy to really start a party - even in the most boring place.
So lets go !

NOTHING

To make sure the environment is safe........

this was one of the reasons of the massive visa denials over the last months:
July 2nd 2008 - Mr. Wei Wei:
Security of the Olympics is a "top priority", Wei said. "To keep dangerous forces outside the country and ensure a safe environment for athletes and visitors is the responsibility of the Chinese government."
One question:
Where was the security at the DRUM TOWER today ?
How comes one single person is able to stab 3 people and nobody (including existing or non-existing security at this place) could stop him ?
Very sorry about this terrible incident and sending deep condolence to the family and friends of
Mr. Bachman.
Please also read this:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/08/uebeerroth-reac.html

Smooth sailing

on the opening party.
No foreigners have been a "threat to the environment" - yes, Mr Bush was there and some other foreigners. Where was Mr Wen ? He was not visible there ........only Mr Hu and Mr Rogge and the old guy from the IOC with his wife looking a little bit like Paris Hilton will look like in 45 years......
Get a GONG for the weekend !

THE CHINA VISA REGULATIONS: A COMPLETE FAILURE !

How comes:
4 guys on tourist L-Visa climbing up at 6.00 am yesterday some lamp-posts and setting up their banners ?
How comes:
2 days in a row some "religious protesters" creating a mess at the Tiananmen Square ?
My personal opinion on this "accidents" is not important and will not be mentioned.
Total failure of the China "inteligence service" - and you can be assured all of this guys were travelling on L-Visa and almost no "china visa history" at all.
And this is exactly the point of the problem: A "programmed, robot like" visa procedure - anybody showing up with the correct documents will get at least a L-Visa - no background check on "visa history" or "china record".
As we business people travelling many years with correct F-Visa have been dumped down to L-Visa since more than 4 months - this is exactly why all this can happen and this is exactly why this "new china visa" regulation is a 100% failure ! Cheers to the designers of the visa policy.

Greetings to first time visitors from:
Jerusalem (Israel), Montevideo (Uruguay), Mato Grosso do Sul Fortaleza (Brazil), Ulaanbaator (Mongolia) + Albuquerque (New Mexico) - welcome all !
Thanks for reading - send it to your friends where ever they are.

To give you some honey - here a very old one - but sweet and as naive as the "china visa designers":
PREFAB SPROUT - A LIFE OF SURPRISES !

Some comments........

Please if you send a comment and even if not really related to the post on top of the page - post it there, not somewhere 18 posts below. Is a hassle to find them. No time. There was 1 post today asking to put a link to the blog-roll - please comment / send again at this post.

And then here some thoughts about the Olympics starting:
1) It is the host country right to be proud and happy to have them !
2) According to pt 1) we all should respect this a little bit more.
3) It seems shallow that now many are complaining about this & that.
China is China, the same as USA is USA, for example.
Do you think Mr Bush or Mr Obama would listen to this ?
4) People from Europe have been calling me. People never been to China and they are asking:"Why is there so many bad and ironic comments in the media ?"
5) Regarding the "new china visa regulations":
I am still 100% convinced that the department implementing this have done a terrible & big mistake.
6) Final comment:
ENJOY YOUR GAMES & AFTER THAT GET NORMAL WITH THE VISA AGAIN !
TRANSMISSION with JOY DIVISION here:

No more posting

for the next days.
Only if really very, very important and groundbreaking "china visa news" coming up, there will be a post here.
All related news please find in the right hand "blog-roll" and in the news reel: On the top part of the page and a bigger one at the end of the page. And as the NEONLIGHTS switched on in Beijing some hours ago by Senor Coconut - enjoy the original by the one and only KRAFTWERK with the english / german version - is there anything better ?

Not so much going on.........

it seems all are waiting now for the "big show" to begin finally in Beijing.
Quite strange the last days about the "ticket scam" and so many people been cheated.
China is able to stop 1,000's of people coming into the country, but it seems such a website selling fake tickets or better just grabbing the money and give nothing "nobody" is able to stop.
It is said the IOC knew already some time about it. Only today the page has disappeared.
Today visitors from Novosibirsk + Bueno Aires on this page.
As the night comes, here some NEONLIGHTS by Senor Coconut covers Kraftwerk:

YES !

excerpts from the official BEIJING 2008 song - maybe you learn the phrases below in mandarin and then try to impress the "visa officer" when you doing your next visa application:

我家大门常打开 开放怀抱等你 The door to our home is always open, and we wait for you with open arms

不管远近都是客人 请不用客气 No matter how far you have come, everyone is a guest, please make yourself at home

陌生熟悉都是客人 请不用拘礼 Friends and strangers are all welcome guests, please enjoy your stay

第几次来没关系 有太多话题 It makes no difference how many times you have visited, we have much to share

Isn't like this ? Maybe not for you as you are probably a "threat to the environment" or you belong to some "dangerous forces" - or you are a member of READERS DIGEST or you have some disease which is not very much welcomed.............Somehow, somewhat you are welcomed even your visa application has failed ! At least the SONG is saying this ............
If this is all not working maybe you play this song to the "visa officer" - be assured he will def kick you out - because he will not understand it:
Liaisons Dangereuses.......

3 DAYS NO POSTING HERE NOW

tired of always having not very good news - taking a rest. Read most of the news in the reel on the top and bottom of the page + see all the blog rolls on the right side.
Just enjoy some music here. Yes ! Music again. What has this to do with the "china visa" regulations ? As much nothing as we are a "threat to the chinese environment" or "dangerous forces".
But at least the music is much nicer as all this kind of "strange accusations":
FOOTSTOMPING MUSIC - GRAND FUNK RAILROAD WANT TO ROCK YOU !

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR TODAY

CHINA DAILY TELLS US EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AS EXPECTED - YES MOST OF THE MISSING TOURISTS WILL ARRIVE EXACTLY ON 08.08.08 at - okay a few minutes before 8.08 PM - but maybe they can't because the "airtraffic" will be already completely blocked - be assured for almost the whole day. Here the "Words Of Wisdom" for today"
quote
"Though more than half the rooms in four-star hotels are still available, the numbers were in line with expectations, said Xiong.
"This is what we expected," she said. "There are still quite a lot of people from other cities and provinces who have tickets but have not yet booked rooms. When August comes, the occupancy rate will be much higher than the present booking rate."
But there have been rumors linking the Chinese government's new visa controls to low hotel reservations. Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympic organizers, denied that the new visa regulations were responsible for low hotel bookings.
"The visa policy is very clear -- it's to guarantee the security of competitors over the Olympics period ... We will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure a peaceful Games," Sun said.
"We welcome foreign friends from all over the world to come to Beijing to compete in and watch the Games, and continue to take measures to provide convenience in applying for visas," he added."
unquote
The whole "story" you can read here "Beijing is ready to entertain" - what will be entertained ?
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cityguide/2008-07/31/content_6892890.htm
Today is almost August 1st - if you want to arrive in time for the opening or some competitions the later days you should have applied your visa already some time ago. Imagine you are in the States and want to apply today - you will earliest have it on Monday - maybe only Tursday and then board the plane very soon to arrive on next week Thursday. Maybe some people in EU or US are planning that short - but lets guess this is only 5- 10% - because for a resident of LA Beijing is not just around the corner - right ? Common sense Mr. Sun - where is it ?
It is admirable that you even get paid for this !
And to give some relaxation for EVERYBODY here some sweet song from ICE CUBE - we have heard he is applying CHINA VISA today:

The Olympic Impact of Visa Regulations on Sponsors

........read the link - it was captured from the "blog-roll" and it is somewhat getting more strange & strange........:
http://www.allroadsleadtochina.com/index.php/2008/07/30/the-olympic-impact-of-visa-regulations-on-sponsors/

Last one for today.........

just want to say "Hello" to the first visitors from Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hawaii & Brazil !
Spread the word.
Now almost 11,000 visitors - from more than 50 countries worldwide.
Here a little reward for all your busy reading today:
The Prodigy - Firestarter (more than 3.3 Mio hits)

China, the Olympics and the Visa Mystery

very much worth reading this article from Stratfor - I feel free to copy a part here. Below the full link. Maybe somebody should put this on the "night table" of Mr Hu & Mr Wen and maybe also pass to some of the responsible "visa designers" in the relevant departments:
quote
Over the past several months as the Beijing Olympics drew nearer, the Chinese government has effectively frozen up most financial reform plans. It also has issued a raft of new security measures not entirely unlike other host cities in the post 9/11 security environment. But China has gone several steps further than its predecessor hosts, placing official and bureaucratic impediments on visa applications. This not only has targeted potential “troublemaking” rights advocates, it has also impacted foreign businesses ranging from invited guests to the Olympic games to managers and employees of foreign companies in China.

Business and the New Visa Hassles
The visa restrictions in particular have been a source of angst for foreign businesses and business associations. Many smaller operations may circumvent Chinese regulations and travel on tourist visas (provided they can still obtain them). And there are ways around the tighter regulations or bureaucratic hurdles if one has the right connections or the willingness to apply several times or from different locations. But multinational corporations are less willing to jeopardize their operations by skirting the laws. Instead, they are making their concerns known to Beijing and hoping that restrictions are eased in September, as Beijing has rumored and hinted will occur. In general, these visa restrictions have been brushed aside by foreign observers as simply paranoia on China’s part regarding protests or terrorist attacks during the Olympics. In many ways, however, this makes little sense.

First and most obvious, the Olympics were supposed to highlight the opening of China — not restrict the very people who have made China a key part of the global economy.
Second, imposing tight restrictions in Shanghai, the center of the Chinese foreign-domestic economic nexus, makes little sense on grounds of Olympic security since Shanghai is playing only a minor role in the games compared to Beijing and Qingdao. (Think shutting down visas to New York during the Atlanta games in the name of security, though Shanghai admittedly is hosting some soccer matches.) Shutting down business visas to keep terrorists out makes little sense anyway — it is hard to imagine Uighur militants traveling on business visas as representatives of foreign multinationals.

Furthermore, by restricting business visas — even if not across the board in a coherent fashion — China is putting a massive strain not only on the ability of businesses to trust Chinese regulations and business relations with the government, but also on the fluidity of the global supply chain. Shutting down or impeding visas affects much more than delaying the movement of a single individual into China; it impacts the ability of multinational corporations to move, replace or supplement managers and dealmakers in China.

A delayed visa applications of just three months still represents an entire quarter that multinational corporations cannot reliably manage their businesses operations i n China, and that doesn’t take into account the visa backlog when restrictions are loosened or lifted. Disrupting an integral part of the global economy for a full quarter because of an international exposition makes little sense.

The Germans in 1936 didn’t do it, the Russians in 1980 didn’t — no one has. One doesn’t simply shut down international business transactions for three months or more to stop a terrorist — and particularly not China, which depends on foreign direct investment.

This is not simply an inconvenience for some people: It is the imposition of friction on a part of the system that is supposed to be frictionless. And it is not merely individuals who are affected, but the relations between mammoth companies.
unquote
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewarticle+articleid_2449041&title=China_the_Olympics_and.html

But there are also winners ................

for example the BOCOG which charges very "humble" internet fees in the media village - this is from here:http://www.andrewlih.com/blog/2008/07/28/olympic-media-village-internet-minibar/
“Working for the Olympics as an IT contractor, I recently moved to the Media Village (where all of the reporters live) and was surprised the there was no free internet. BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee of the 2008 Olympic Games) is charging a ridiculous amount of money for ADSL service: for
512/512 it costs 7712.5 RMB (1,131.20 USD);
1M/512 it costs 9156.25 (1,342.95 USD);
2M/512 it costs a whopping 11,700 RMB (1,716.05 USD).
That is for only one month! For extra features like a fixed IP? That costs an additional 450 RMB (66 USD). I just can’t believe that not only do I have to deal with the Great Firewall of China, but also pay through the nose to use it!”

Also here 2 comments you can find on the above blog regarding this issue:
Comment 1 from chinamatt:
"Wouldn’t it be cheaper to use an internet cafe at that point? Hell, my crappy China Telecom connection is about 700RMB for six months. Nice to see China still enjoys ripping off visitors at every turn. "
Comment 2 from spelunker:
"My guess is that every single Chinese Internet Cafe (5 RMB/hour) within a 5 kilometer radius of the Media Village will be shut down for two months, to “ensure the smooth hosting of the Olympics and safeguard the city’s social stability during the Olympic games” of course.
My suggestion is to head for the Haidian District, which has Beijing’s largest concentration of Internet Cafes."

".....but in the end it will be Chinese businesses that suffer...."

please read in the following link - some more views about this "china visa policy":
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080728/FOREIGN/44274756/1015/SPORT&Profile=1015

Businesses across China also are reeling ......(forbes.com)

quote
from a government decision to tighten security screening of applicants for both business and tourist visas.
Some tourists have been blocked from traveling, while others simply have been turned off. Upscale hotels, many of which went through costly renovations for the Olympics, have been half-empty in the past three months. Industry executives say it is the worst slump since a severe pneumonia outbreak that jumped from China to the world.
"It is almost as bad as 2003, when SARS broke out," said Matthew Lin, director of Bravo Tours China in Shanghai, where he said business is down 30 percent. "Many foreigners canceled their trips or didn't bother to come."
unquote
Congratulations - Job well done !
Full report here:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/29/ap5265994.html

And "The Standard" also has something to say.....

yesterday (Tuesday) in "The Standard":
quote
Erm, that's not quite right, guys...
A Hong Kong daily English newspaper - not this one (the are meaning the SCMP) has been taken to task by Beijing authorities over a recent page one "scoop". The paper claimed the capital was implementing new measures to restrict business visa ahead of the Olympics.
Not true, says Zhao Hui, an official with the Beijing Municipal Buero of Commerce.
"We handled (the past ?) about 150 applications every day this month - up 52 percent against the same period last year," Xinhua News Agency quoted Zhao as saying.
We're happy to put the record straight.
unquote
Okay ......ermmmm - first they are shooting against the SCMP. Seems this is normal media business for them.
Second, Mr Zhao is saying they have "handled" about 150 applications every day this month.....!
Yes "handled" - but how many of this 150 a day have been issued then ?
Waiting for more news from "The Standard" to "put the records right". Mary Ma should write a comment about this visa issue.
ANYBODY RECENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE "VISA NOTIFICATION LETTER" ISSUED IN BEIJING PLEASE POST A COMMENT !

Olympic paranoia clutches China

please see this - about the general security measures and the effects. A big part of the losses will come from the visa restriction - it is difficult to measure - but a certain "loss of confidence" also will turn out expensive.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JG30Ad01.html
Mr. James Osterberg aka Iggy Pop maybe will not be able to play Beijing and therefore has the "correct" song for you: NO FUN

Perfect Confusion Again ! And "Smiling Faces".....

So what ? Read this from REUTERS and anybody able to explain ?
Why not decide who gets a F-Visa based on the applicants "Visa History" ?
It would help to regain some confidence at least !
99.99999% of us foreigners are not Terrorists, no "Free Tibet Activists", not "Falun Gong", not normal "local chinese criminals", have not any idea to bother or disturb the Games and def will not sit in any Beijing public toilet or 5-star hotel and make a "diy explosive device".
You are looking at the wrong end !
Beijing denies new Olympic business visa curbs
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKPEK10399920080728
Dont trust "Smiling Faces" - "Undisputed Truth"! They are wearing some white wigs to be able get a drink in a Sanlitun bar during the time 08.08.08 - 24.08.08 ! Enjoy.

The Government don't care: "China Visa News"

please read this - the "desaster starts to get visible":
China faces loss of firms over Olympic hurdles for visa-seekers:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/28/china

Words of Nonsense

Read here some "official text" about the suspension of visas for Shanghai..........does anybody really understand or is able to define what is "urgent" and "non-urgent" ? This is copied from chinatravel.net
quote
Grrrrrrrr, is all we can say these days when thinking about visas and the choking Olympic security measures. Well, can we have a drum-roll, please? This is especially grrrrrrrrr worthy.
The Shanghai Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission (SMERT) recently made this visa announcement:
Effective immediately until mid-September:
1. We will temporarily not accept entry visa applications for foreigners whose destination and/or entry point into China is in another province/city;
2. We will temporarily postpone examination and approval of applications for foreigners applying to come to Shanghai in the near future for non-urgent matters such as business inspections, visits, market research, training, etc., and recommend postponement of applications to after mid-September of this year;
3. For foreigners who have urgent and important matters to visit Shanghai in the near future, the inviting party or organization from China must supply materials providing a detailed account of the circumstances, at the same time reducing the number of people and the duration of stay in Shanghai to the best of their ability;
4. Applications for work visas (“Z” category visa) are not affected by this notice;
5. Due to recent special circumstances, processing and transaction times will also be prolonged. We respectfully ask for your understanding.
(Unofficial translation by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai)
We'd like to know exactly what the difference between a "non-urgent matter" and an "urgent and important matter" are according to SMERT. Apparently business and tourism have made it high on the non-urgent list.
unquote
Nothing else to add to this !

What's Going On......

here a sweetener for all of yours weekend.......Marvin Gaye singing about some truth - enjoy and think about it.

THE ROBOTS

here one more link for the weekend to start !
"Fun may be a casualty of Beijing's effort for a perfect Olympic Games" from LA TIMES:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-fun26-2008jul26,0,4306007.story?page=1

Happy reading & enjoy KRAFTWERK - THE ROBOTS:

The Crowd, The Police & No Foreigners !

No pictures of the incident in Beijing triggered by the ticket sale will be published here. It is a pity this was not "handled" better. But be assured you can not spot any foreigner on this pictures ! Why you guys not immediately ask Hong Kong police for help - they know very well how to install a proper "crowd management". Just read the editorial from todays SCMP - also attached another small clip about the Beijing toursim business down. Click on it.

Countdown clock installed at page end !

Today headline SCMP

How to work around this new rule ? Very difficult because:

1) A remark will be printed on the visa sticker - restrict this cities.

Means nobody will issue a airticket or busticket to you with this remark.

For example if you have applied F visa with a Hangzhou "notification letter" you will not be able tyo take a train, as they will check your passport. You can take a car, yes, but you will breach the "entry & exit law" if you have that remark in your passport and you still go to Shanghai.

2) Next will be L visa. As per following logic: All "normal olympic tourists"should have their travel documents complete by now (including visa).

Then simply do not issue anymore L visa for this cities. As you need to show ticket and hotel booking it will be simply denied.

To read the article simply click on it.

Why not together with the visa distribute "arm-bands" for foreigners to wear ?

Maybe one with F and one with L. Will make the work for the police during the next weeks easier.

There is one comment in below post I first did not wanted to issue: Some "nice person" is naming us exploiters and suggesting to "burn down our factories".

Next comments with a "sentiment" like this will not be published anymore.