Zhang Qian

    zhqcindy@163.com

    IN the midst of a surge in the number of expatriates registering where they live at the Shekou Police Station, the citywide registration system has been taken down for “technical upgrades,” according to officials.

    A strongly worded notice about registering posted in Shekou last Wednesday said a “big operation” against unregistered foreigners will take place soon. The Shekou Police Station posted a notice Sunday saying the operation will be postponed until June 17 “due to the number of applicants.”

    According to a policewoman from the household registration office at the station, who did not give her name, the operation will randomly check expats, who are reminded to carry their passports.

    The number of expats who went to the Shekou Police Station to register their temporary residence in Shenzhen doubled since it posted a notice Wednesday, according to the policewoman.

    “There were so many expats coming for registration last week after reading the notice,” said the policewoman. She would not provide an exact number.

    Wednesday’s English notice urging expats to register at local police stations was posted in residential compounds in Shekou, Shenzhen’s largest expat enclave.

    According to legal information on the official website of the Exit-Entry Administration of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau, all expats, along with visitors from Hong Kong and Macao, with any type of visa, should register at the nearest police stations to where they are staying within 24 hours of entering the city.

    Hotels upload the information to the public security departments automatically.

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    However, dozens of expatriates living in Shenzhen were told that they could not register their residence at police stations.

    “The system was ‘broken.’ So I couldn’t register, said an expat identified as Mary in a WeChat group yesterday. (I) met a friend of mine who said that the same thing happened in Shekou and apparently around Shenzhen,” read the Mary’s message.

    Multiple police stations said yesterday that the registration system for foreigners is undergoing a “technical upgrade.”

    A staff member from the Zhaoshang Police Station, another police station in Shekou, said that all police stations in the city could not perform registration because of the upgrade.

    Zhang Dong, an officer from the Division of the Exit-Entry Administration of the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau said the citywide upgrade was not related to the increase in registrations in Shekou.

    He said last Wednesday’s notice by Shekou police station was simply an independent act, but stressed it is compulsory for expats to register at local police stations.

    “Since the system is being upgraded, we will not punish expats who haven’t registered yet before the system is back online, but expats can still file their records with valid documents at the police stations,” said Zhang.

    Zhang said that the municipal public security bureau did not announce a citywide operation. According to him, the operation is the Shekou station’s decision.

    Many expats living in Shenzhen said they were not clear about the rules.

    “As expats we have to re-register every time we get into the country. Let’s say I have a contract for my apartment for a year. Every time we go to Hong Kong, we have to re-register, but they already know where we live,” said an expat identified as Patrick.

    Another online comment made by an expat known as James suggested that the law should be enforced consistently. “If the rules are so important to the police, then more time needs to be put in to ensure compliance systems are in place,” said James.

    Zhang also said Shenzhen police should put more effort into offering accessible information for expatriate residents and visitors.

    The staffer from the Shekou household registration office said that the system might be working from today, but expats are encouraged to call or ask their a Chinese speaker before going to the station. The office’s number is 26884333.