In a recent string of incidents in Dongfeng, Guangdong, several foreigners and local businesses have been fined for not adhering to China's strict accommodation registration requirements for foreigners.
近期在广东东风镇发生了一系列事件，几名外国人和当地企业因未遵守中国对外国人住宿登记的严格规定而被罚款。
Case Review
案例回顾
On September 7, 2024, a foreign client arrived at a company in the Anle Industrial Park in Dongfeng Town. The client stayed overnight at the company, yet the company failed to report this to the local police for accommodation registration.
2024年9月7日，一名外国客户抵达东风镇安乐工业园的一家公司。该客户在公司过夜，但公司未向当地警方报告以进行住宿登记。
This oversight violated the laws regulating foreigner accommodation in China, specifically the Foreigners’ Accommodation Registration Regulations. As a result, the company’s manager, Mr. Huang, was fined by the local authorities for neglecting the required registration process.
这一疏忽违反了中国关于外国人住宿的法律规定，特别是《外国人住宿登记规定》。结果，该公司经理黄先生因忽视所需的登记流程而被当地当局罚款。
A few weeks later, on September 30, 2024, law enforcement uncovered a more serious case. A Vietnamese woman, who had illegally entered China, was found working in a restaurant and renting an apartment in Xiao Li Village in Dongfeng Town. Neither the landlord, Mr. Hu, nor the restaurant owner, Mr. Liu, had registered her accommodation with the police or reported her employment. As a result, all three individuals—the foreign worker, the landlord, and the restaurant owner—were each fined for violating the law.
几周后，2024年9月30日，执法部门揭露了一个更严重的案例。一名非法入境中国的越南女性被发现在东风镇小李村的一家餐馆工作并租住公寓。房东胡先生和餐馆老板刘先生均未向警方登记她的住宿或报告她的就业情况。结果，这三个人——外国工人、房东和餐馆老板——都因违反法律而被罚款。
Lastly, on November 30, 2024, police conducted a routine check at a rented house in Sui Cheng Village, Dongfeng, where they discovered a Vietnamese tenant residing there. The property manager, Mr. Liu, had failed to register the foreigner’s accommodation information, resulting in an administrative penalty.
最近，在2024年11月30日，警方在东风镇遂成村的一处出租房屋进行例行检查时，发现一名越南租客居住在那里。物业经理刘先生未能登记外国人的住宿信息，导致受到行政处罚。
Legal Background
法律背景
According to China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law and the Regulations on the Implementation of the Exit and Entry Administration Law for Foreigners, foreigners are required to follow certain regulations when staying in China. These rules apply not only to hotels but also to other forms of accommodation, such as private homes and schools.
根据中国的《出境入境管理法》和《外国人出境入境管理法实施细则》，外国人在中国停留时需要遵守一定的规定。这些规则不仅适用于酒店，还适用于其他形式的住宿，如私人住宅和学校。
Article 39: If a foreigner stays in a hotel, the hotel must register their accommodation details with the local police within 24 hours of their arrival. If the foreigner stays at any other type of accommodation (e.g., a private home or rented apartment), either the foreigner or the host must register with the police within 24 hours of check-in.
第39条：如果外国人住在酒店，酒店必须在其抵达后24小时内向当地警方登记他们的住宿详情。如果外国人住在任何其他类型的住宿（例如，私人住宅或出租公寓），外国人或宿主必须在入住后24小时内向警方登记。
Article 76: This law specifies penalties for those who fail to comply with the registration requirements. Individuals or businesses that house foreigners without registration may face fines of up to 2,000 RMB, and foreigners who refuse to cooperate with authorities may face warnings or penalties.
第76条：本法律规定了对未遵守登记要求者的处罚。未经登记而留宿外国人的个人或企业可能面临高达2000元人民币的罚款，拒绝配合当局的外国人可能面临警告或处罚。
In most cases, both the foreigner and their host (whether an employer, landlord, or hotel owner) can be held accountable. If the foreigner fails to complete the registration, they may face a fine. However, the host is also responsible for ensuring the registration is completed in a timely manner. In the incidents in Dongfeng, fines were issued to employers, landlords, and foreign workers, all of whom were found in violation of the registration rules.
在大多数情况下，外国人及其宿主（无论是雇主、房东还是酒店老板）都可能被追究责任。如果外国人未完成登记，他们可能面临罚款。然而，宿主也有责任确保及时完成登记。在东风的事件中，雇主、房东和外国工人都因违反登记规则而受到罚款。
