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There have been quite a few discussions of late about the cost and complexity of visiting various countries. Have been hearing a lot recently about a couple (he's Swedish, she's Chinese) who wanted to visit her hometown and spend some time with her parents. As they we were heading in the general direction of China they were trying to get a clear understanding of the procedures for a yacht visiting the country (they certainly are not the first but it is pretty rare). Since you could communicate in Chinese it should have been easier to do than for most of us.
After much of this discussion, and by the time they reached the Philippines, they were told there was no procedure for a yacht to visit the country. They would have to enter as a ship with normal requirements for pilots, etc. For starters they would have to put a deposit of about $5000 that the various charges would be deducted from. If there was anything left they would get it back. If there was a balance it would be payable before they were given their clearance papers to leave.
This caused a huge stink in the sailing discussion group on the Chinese equivalent of Twitter and many complaints about the treatment this couple were getting. It was even in some of the newspapers in China who talked about this 'older couple'* wanting to come to the country and how the government was being unreasonable. The government relented (sort of) and said they could come free of charge but could only stay for 15 days. The last I heard was that couple had decided to go to Hong Kong and leave the boat there while they visit the parents.
*For some reason the newspaper reported the combined age of the 'older couple' - 110. Damn, we have a decade on them. Wonder what they would call us?
After much of this discussion, and by the time they reached the Philippines, they were told there was no procedure for a yacht to visit the country. They would have to enter as a ship with normal requirements for pilots, etc. For starters they would have to put a deposit of about $5000 that the various charges would be deducted from. If there was anything left they would get it back. If there was a balance it would be payable before they were given their clearance papers to leave.
This caused a huge stink in the sailing discussion group on the Chinese equivalent of Twitter and many complaints about the treatment this couple were getting. It was even in some of the newspapers in China who talked about this 'older couple'* wanting to come to the country and how the government was being unreasonable. The government relented (sort of) and said they could come free of charge but could only stay for 15 days. The last I heard was that couple had decided to go to Hong Kong and leave the boat there while they visit the parents.
*For some reason the newspaper reported the combined age of the 'older couple' - 110. Damn, we have a decade on them. Wonder what they would call us?