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| China Lifts Entry Ban on HIV/AIDS Foreigners |
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A standing meeting of the State Council approved the other day the Decision of the State Council on Amending the Rules for the Implementation of the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China and the Decision of the State Council on Amending the Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China Governing the Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreigners.
The two decisions altered Article 99 in the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China and Article 7 (4) in the Law of the People's Republic of China Governing the Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreigners respectively. They are the same virtually, lifting ban on entry for foreigners with HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and leprosy and narrowing the restrictive scope for mentally ill and tuberculosis patients.
An official with the Legal System Office of the State Council said that the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China in 1989 and the Law of the People's Republic of China Governing the Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreigners in 1986 both banned foreigners with HIV/AIDS, STDs and leprosy from entering the country. That was based on limited knowledge about the diseases. After gaining more knowledge about the diseases, the government has realized that such ban has a very limited effect in preventing and controlling diseases in the country. It has, instead, caused inconvenience for the country when hosting various international activities. Therefore, it is necessary to revise these two laws and lift relevant entry ban.
The official also stated that the lifting of the ban won't bring an outbreak of disease in the country as scientific research has proved daily contact doesn't cause infection. It has been proven in recent international events in the country that allowing foreigners with HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and leprosy to enter the country has not threatened China's public health security.
Most countries and regions do not ban the entry of foreigners with HIV/AIDS, STDs and leprosy. Currently 110 countries and regions around the world have no ban on entry for HIV/AIDS carriers. South Korea and the United States also removed the ban on January 1 and 4, 2010 respectively. Meanwhile most countries do not have a ban on entry for STD foreigners. According to the Ma Haide Foundation, other countries do not restrict entry for foreigners with leprosy except China. Besides, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution of "Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members" on June 18, 2008, advocating equal rights for them. The Chinese government signed the resolution.
The two decisions narrow the restrictive scope for mentally ill and tuberculosis patients to only severe mental patients and those with infectious tuberculosis. The official said it is unnecessary to restrict minor mental patients as they won't harm the country's social order and personal safety. Also, "open pulmonary TB" is not infectious, so that restricting entry for "foreigners with infectious pulmonary TB" is more rational.
The Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China and Law of the People's Republic of China Governing the Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreigners revised and adopted by the 108th standing meeting of the State Council were announced on April 24, 2010 and put in force on the same day.
The Decision of the State Council on Amending the Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China Governing the Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreigners was adopted at the 108th standing meeting of the State Council on April 19, 2010, which is hereby promulgated and put in force on the day of promulgation. (Source: Xinhuanet)
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