Police officers in Guangzhou’s Tianhe District have been doing the rounds over the past few days, stopping in at various F&B outlets to check for passports, visas and registration papers from foreign patrons, according to a number of bar and restaurant owners in the Zhujiang New Town area.
One restaurant owner, who asked to remain anonymous, told That’s that officers who recently visited his establishment said that passport checks will “increase this week” in the city.
The same bar owner encouraged us to remind our readers to carry their documents (passport and police registration) with them while out in public and to follow Chinese laws and avoid illegal drugs.
Passport checks are a long standing practice in China and police inspections at bars and restaurants in Guangzhou – particularly Party Pier and in Zhujiang New Town – have grown more common of late.
Last month, on December 11, police visited popular bar street Xingsheng Lu, stopping in at a number of establishments to check documents and post anti-drug posters. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve received word from numerous That’s readers that Party Pier has been hit with increased document checks by authorities.
A staffer at the Exit and Entry Department of Guangzhou Public Security Bureau told us this afternoon that it’s best to carry a hard copy of your passport with you at all times. Admittedly, the man did follow up by saying that “memorizing your passport number” may also do.
Under Article 25 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, “Foreigners in China over the age of 16 years old must carry their residence certificates and passports with them for police inspection.”
So, if you’re planning to hit the town this week, we strongly encourage you to bring hard copies of your passport and housing registration with you.
READ MORE: What You Need to Know About China's Recent Drug Crackdown
[Cover image via Pixabay]
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