Kashmiris get Chinese stapled visa in Hong Kong or Macau

Sumir Kaul
New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) Some Kashmiris have found an
ingenious way of beating the Indian Home Ministry's ban on
travelling to China with visas stapled to their passports.

The Chinese embassy here had started issuing visas to the
residents of the northernmost Indian state of Jammu and
Kashmir by not stamping their passports but by granting the
visa on separate sheets, which was seen by observers as
Chinese attempt to question the state's status as part of
India.
The Indian Government took up the matter with China in
October last and made it clear that no one would be allowed to
travel on a stapled visa.
In a novel way to skirt around the Indian Home Ministry's
objection, people, having place of birth mentioned as Kashmir
in their passport, started using the Hong Kong or Macau route
to enter mainland China.
Five cases were noticed by the Immigration authorities
where people, born in Jammu and Kashmir, had visited Hong Kong
and later to mainland China by getting the visa stapled to
their travel document, official sources said.
The sources said the new trend has been reported to the
Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Ministry has
issued an advisory to all airports for making a proper enquiry
from all the passengers coming or going to Hong Kong and
Macau.
Even the airlines have been asked to verify and
cross-check the final port of disembarkation. (MORE) PTI SKL
RDM


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