Restrictions vex residents, visitors As the Forbidden City oozes magnificence under a freshly painted facade, a stone's throw away, grocery store owner Ms Hou is busy making phone calls to make sure her tiny shop is well stocked. Not that business has been good leading up to the climax of the Olympics hype. Authorities had declared that these Games would be a party for everyone and a 'People's Olympics', but the government's all-out efforts to put on a good show have brought a measure of inconvenience to Ms Hou and many other residents. 'It's very hard to find suppliers with enough stock because the government has banned vehicles from other provinces from coming into Beijing. I don't know if we can keep the door open by the end of the Olympics,' she said, refusing to be identified by her full name, a common request by people asked to comment for the media. As preparations for the Games reach a fever pitch, Beijing has been rolling out scores of restrictions to boost the city's image and security, with many caught unprepared. To ease traffic and cut pollution, vehicles from other provinces cannot enter Beijing without permits until September 20. Those emitting heavy pollutants are not allowed in downtown areas. Later this month, cars in Beijing will be subject to an odd-even rule, which means - depending on the last digit of their number plates - they may drive only on alternate days. The traffic ban has forced many shops and companies to stock up in advance. But for people with fewer resources, such as Ms Hou, supply shortages have pushed up costs and left many on the verge of closing their businesses during the Games. People in Beijing are seeing prices of daily necessities rise beyond the rate of inflation, which was 7.7 per cent in May. But Ms Hou dared not raise her prices. 'If I raise the prices, people will stop coming,' she said. 'To make things worse, there aren't enough tourists these days.' There are half the number of tourists streaming into the Forbidden City and the neighbouring alleyways, according to some estimates. Ms Hou said her sales had been down by about 5,000 yuan since June1. The lower-than-expected tourist figures are the result of stricter visa regulations on foreigners, measures to cut the number of mainlanders entering Beijing, and the high cost of travelling to and staying in the city. 'Each shop here is also supposed to send someone to patrol this area and report any suspicious people to the authorities,' Ms Hou said, pointing to a red armband pinned on her husband's sleeve. Of all the issues, security is perhaps the biggest thorn in the city's side. Amid a police crackdown on the migrant population, which is far larger than that of Beijingers, non-Beijing mainland residents have been scrambling to get their temporary resident's permits, and foreigners to get their visas. The visa restrictions have prompted a flood of complaints, with many foreigners having to return to their home countries, or other places like Hong Kong, to obtain new ones. Bearing the brunt are those on business visas - called F-visas - which in theory are granted to foreigners invited for business or research. But over the years, many without work or study visas were able to obtain F-visas through travel agents. But since March 1, at least three restrictions have been introduced, according to visa consultant Marcy Shen Lijun . Dual nationality holders have had to relinquish one of their nationalities; F-visa applicants have had to show at least US$3,000 in a mainland bank account to prove they can support themselves in the country; and employees of small companies have had to return to their home countries to apply for their work visas. The longer processing period and the complexity of documents required are making many foreigners give up and leave altogether. One Shanghai-based American businessman, who refused to be named, said he had stopped applying for visas for his guests until the restrictions were eased. 'China is just reinforcing the regulations that were poorly executed before, which is fine,' he said. 'But now there is a huge lack of transparency. The government should write down the regulations clearly.' And just as migrant workers are being kept out, members of ethnic minorities, such as Xinjiang businessmen Happyrat Baterbek, feel that they are being driven out. Mr Baterbek said his decision to leave Beijing, where he has lived for seven years, was due to 'indirect pressure' from the government. 'And now nobody is willing to rent their apartment to someone like me,' he said. Even some Beijing residents don't want to stay for the Games. Zhou Xiaozheng , a sociologist at Renmin University, is planning an escape with his friends. 'In other countries, the Olympics is a sporting event, but in China, it's a political mission,' he said. 'As the government exhausts all means to make sure it will be safe and smooth, people's interests are no longer important.' Price increases at five-star hotels: 160% Price increases at four-star hotels: 260% Price increases at three-star hotels: 320% Source: Beijing Tourism Bureau
