Chinese Bar Some From Air Travel

Beijing authorities have instructed Chinese airlines in Hong Kong to halt ticket sales to nationals of 19 countries, mainly in the Middle East.

China National Aviation Corp., the sole agent of 10 mainland airlines in Hong Kong, told travel agents in an Oct. 3 memo to stop selling tickets to China to holders of certain passports and to refund tickets already bought.

China has tightened controls on Middle Easterners trying to travel to mainland China in the wake of the terror attacks in the United States and the retaliatory strikes on Afghanistan.

The memo, obtained by Associated Press, urged travel agents to comply with rules issued by China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Civil Aviation Administration imposing “strict controls” on travelers.

The memo added that there would not be “a total ban”--wording that may have been meant to allow room for diplomats or dignitaries to travel.

Pakistani diplomats have complained that Beijing appears to have imposed a virtual ban on their nationals trying to visit mainland China. Some Middle Eastern consulates have also said China has tightened entry requirements.

China’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged that entry rules are changed from time to time, but it disputed contentions this week that any nationalities have been singled out.

China’s Civil Aviation Administration and the official spokesmen of three carriers--Air China, China Eastern and China--denied there was a ban on Middle Eastern air travelers.

The Chinese memo said tickets should not be issued to holders of passports from the following countries: Afghanistan, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, Sudan, Libya, Algeria and Pakistan. Holders of Palestinian passports were also barred.