According to additional statistics from the Ministry of Public Security, people from the mainland traveled to Hong Kong and Macao most last year.

Japan, Russia, Thailand and the Republic of Korea topped about 230 foreign destinations.

Among the many elements encouraging those from the mainland to go overseas, being hired by an offshore employer ranked first.

The number of so-called "exported laborers" hit 3.7 million last year, contributing more than 22 percent of the total.

Then came those heading for overseas commercial conferences or people on short-term business trips, and those traveling for sightseeing and leisure. They made up about 22 and 21 percent of the total respectively.

Another reason behind the huge increase in overseas travelers, the report said, was the obviously simplified travel procedures.

Since February 2002, people no longer need to produce relevant invitation letters from overseas groups in order to get permission from the public security authority to leave.

Many local security authorities on the mainland have also reduced the number of working days they need to examine and issue passports.

The underlying reason for the reform is the surging needs of people on the mainland for closer contact with the outside world.

A source with the ministry said more than 228 million people passed through China's ports of entry or border checkpoints last year, up 13 percent over 2001.

This is the 13th consecutive year the number of people entering and leaving the mainland has grown year-on-year.

(Beijing Portal.com.cn February 4, 2003)