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Transit ban on Chinese may benefit CNMI
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Posted on Jan 23 2001
The directive issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, barring Chinese nationals without visa from transiting to American ports, may work to the advantage of the Northern Marianas.
Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said the INS order has the possibility to give birth to direct flights to Saipan, especially those coming from Hong Kong which carry passengers from the mainland China.
“It might be a good thing for the CNMI. Since there are flights coming in from major destinations in Asia that carry Saipan-bound Chinese passengers, some airlines might consider flying direct to Saipan before proceeding to Guam,” said Mr. Salas in an interview.
According to CPA official, the possibility of a direct flight to Saipan may come from Continental Airlines which regularly flies between Guam and Hong Kong.
A good number of Saipan-based garment factory workers are from mainland China. Continental’s twice-a-week flight between Hong Kong and Guam carries Chinese passengers to and from the Northern Marianas.
Mr. Salas said CPA is hoping that some airline companies, especially Continental Micronesia, will consider flying direct to and from Hong Kong to Saipan before proceeding to Guam and vice versa.
Continental Airlines flies between Guam and Hong Kong on Mondays and Wednesdays. Hong Kong-bound passengers, mostly Chinese workers, transit via Guam from Saipan.
INS recently declared that nationals of the People’s Republic of China who do not hold US visa will not be allowed to transit in any American port starting Feb. 5, 2001.
Aside from China, 23 other countries are covered by the INS directive banning their nationals from transiting any American port unless they possess a US visa.
Tinian Dynasty Hotel general manager Tom Liu said this new directive will have a serious effect on their market since they have a regular group of PROC nationals who come to the casino-hotel for a visit.
Visitors from mainland China are only issued an authorization to board (ATB) by CNMI immigration officials.
The new directive would now limit the port of entry for Chinese nationals in coming to the CNMI. They may have to take the Seoul-Saipan flight or Tokyo-Saipan flight.
