China steps up security ahead of Olympics

Security efforts bring complaints
"I understand they want heightened security but this way is the completely wrong way to do it," said Weckherlin. "If they are afraid of troublemakers in whatever sense, they know how to stop them. This seems like a universal punishment."

Based in Hong Kong, Weckherlin says he needs to cross the border regularly to oversee factory work for his garment business.

"We can't plan when we go. Sometimes I have to go two or three times a week, especially during peak production time in May, June and July," he said. If the difficulties aren't resolved fairly quickly, he expects businesses "will consider placing orders somewhere else, like Vietnam."

Adding to the confusion has been China's continued insistence that no changes have been made to its visa policy. "We will continue to facilitate foreigners who want to come to China. This policy is consistent and has remained unchanged," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Thursday.

Visa changes and denials
Both the American and European chambers of commerce in Hong Kong sent urgent letters to the Chinese government last week, citing several cases of visa denials and raising concerns over the impact on businesses.

The visa changes have also created uncertainty for many foreigners who are working in China on business visas, a common though technically prohibited practice. A work visa, which is more difficult to acquire, is needed for employment.

An expatriate magazine editor says up to 70 percent of the foreigners on his staff could be gone by July.

"Huge numbers of people could be in trouble — people working in music, arts, theater, journalism, industries that hugely benefit the city and country," he said, requesting not to be quoted by name for fear of government reprisals.

Foreigners in China also report new random checks of identification.

A 48-year-old American said he was accosted by police twice at a McDonald's in a town just north of Beijing, demanding he show his passport and residence permit. Foreigners are required to do so, but the regulation had not been routinely enforced.

"I think that's ridiculous," said the Florida native, who asked not to be identified out of worry his comments could jeopardize the renewal of his visa. "If I go to Tianjin or Shanghai, of course I would carry my passport, but if I'm just going down the street, then why are they making a big deal?"

Migrant workers affected too
Foreigners aren't the only ones being scrutinized. Since March, all migrant workers are required to show a sponsor letter from their landlord to register with local police, said Wei Wei, founder of Little Bird, a Beijing-based activist group.

Virtually the only people assured of no hassles are those attending the Olympic Games. Mark, a 29-year-old Canadian, said he and his girlfriend came to China in 2006, and got jobs teaching English. Their visas expire soon, and they had been worried about renewing them. They now feel more confident: They won Olympic tickets in a lottery.

Still, he is concerned about friends.

"I have a lot of friends who are going home because they don't have Olympic tickets," he said. "That's ridiculous. They want to be here, Olympics or no Olympics. China's kicking them out for no real good reason."

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