Maybe for every 1 foreigner working illegally in Yunnan, there are 1000 Yunnanese working illegally abroad.

But thats just maybe.

@Peter: doesn't bother me in itself, depends on what work people do, for whom, and to what ends.

Oh, probably half of that is shady business. In one way or another. :)

Maybe its okay though - as when whole asia turns into this singapore park, even backpackers may become a nice nostalgic memory. Too many countries are having singapore as a future model now.

Lets hope the disorganisers still got plenty jokers up their sleeves.

Again with trying to shift things on others. Even if that supposition was anywhere near possible, that would still not make those foreigners working part time or full time in China under the wrong visa any less illegals.

Lots of stuff under Chinese law is illegal. Part time teaching could be less illegal than say using a v p m.

Wondering why her student visa is up in August. Most Universities/schools give visas til September to give students time to apply when school starts again end of August or early September. Just saying.

Deflecting the fact that there are loads of foreigners working on the wrong visa still makes them illegals. The ongoing crack downs, detentions and deportations of illegal workers and the applications of stricter laws means that it's a serious issue.

Serious issue is relative thing, its a minor issue, when you put it up against drugs, fake food, terrorism, corruption, social tensions, environment and that stuff. Thats where the resources are aimed at now. Oh, and where they are aimed at now is probably more or less exactly where they should be aimed at.

Illegal workers is in same category as prostitutes and gambling and that stuff, if even there.

Not looking for an argument here, but the "serious" is not that serious this time around.

I would guess that they are not (or should not be) the same officials, who
investigate drug trafficking and who investigate illegal employment.

Also knowing that in China officials are still not easily dismissed for budget cuts, I would guess that while focus of a person or department can shift slightly within a target field, it can not easily move from, for example, investigating illegal employment to investigating drug trafficking.

That said, illegal employment may be included in business of departments of commerce, officials in which may be currently occupied with things like the tainted meat imports.

From what I have seen of officialdom, there is a lot of ring fencing of responsibilities. If it is not within an officials remit/job description, it won't be dealt with. And if it is known to be within some other departments jurisdiction it won't be broached upon. It is also unlikely to passed across to the other department either.