Guangdong Province has tightened rules governing foreigners to crack down on illegal immigration.
A provincial regulation, which takes effect May 1, encourages people to report malpractice involving foreigners, such as illegal entry, overstaying, working without permits or conducting business without a license.
The regulation, approved by the provincial government Jan. 21, was posted on the government Web site recently. It is the first of its kind to manage foreigners on the mainland.
The six-chapter, 67-article regulation stipulates that no one be allowed to provide accommodation for foreigners who have overstayed or are without a valid passport.
Property owners violating the rules will be fined three times the sum of the monthly rent.
The regulation was promulgated after a growing number of foreigners were attracted to seek employment and trade opportunities in Guangdong.
More than 63,000 permanent foreign residents are registered in Guangdong and more than 4 million foreigners visit the province annually, according to a China Daily report. But there has been a growing number of illegal immigrants.
The regulation stipulates that an employer of a foreigner without a valid work or residence permit should be fined up to 3,000 yuan (US$450).
Any firm or individual who provides accommodation or bank accounts for foreigners without valid travel documents, or whose visas have expired, will be fined up to 10,000 yuan.
Max J. Zenglein, regional manager of the German Chamber of Commerce in South China, said the new provisions would not affect foreign companies.
According to the Guangzhou Intermediate People s Court, one-third of the fraud cases between 2002 and 2008 involved foreigners.
Many companies in Guangdong had been found to be illegally employing cheap labor from Africa, the Middle East, Vietnam and Myanmar.(Xinhua)
