quote:

---

BEIJING — With their infant daughter in their arms, Nuer and Guli visited a dozen hotels in Beijing in late May, searching desperately for a place to stay.

Most of the hotel clerks, mistaking them for foreigners, welcomed them and offered a room. But when the couple pulled out their identity cards, the clerks realized they were Muslim Uyghurs from China. And then the response was always the same: Sorry, no room at the inn.

---

quote:

---

BEIJING — Chinese police officials have forced some Beijing bar owners to sign secret pledges promising to prohibit blacks from entering their bars during the Olympics next month, a Hong Kong newspaper says.

The police denied the report Friday, and most bars denied any knowledge of the pledges. But many African residents of Beijing say they are facing harassment from police and discrimination from bars as the Olympics approach.

---

[ 18 July 2008: Message edited by: brookmere ]

All migrant workers in China can be sent "home" since they are temporary residents in the city, not "citizens" of it. Yes, they use that term, in its original sense.

I think a great many migrant workers will be moved out of Beijing for the Olympics. First, they need the rooms. Second, many are working in construction projects which will shut down for the Olympics. Third, they are trying to limit activity and crowding generally in Beijing during the Olympics.

The kernal of truth is the reference to Muslim Uyghurs. When we were in China in May, we picked up a certain unease about them. None of the other 56 national minorities, not even the Tibetans, make Chinese people nervous. Uyghurs, possibly so. Not in Xi'an, where they are neighbours. In Beijing, maybe.

[ 18 July 2008: Message edited by: Wilf Day ]