Entry-exit Administration police said yesterday nearly 200,000 foreigners have applied and received official certificates to stay in Shanghai since last December when local police began to combine issuing a local visa and residence permit.

Police estimate more than 3 million foreigners will come to Shanghai by the end of year, up from more than 2 million last year.

While the number of foreigners and Chinese locals caught in Shanghai and charged for illegal international traveling remained at some 5,000 to 6,000 people each year.

The number of Shanghai locals who traveled overseas from the city for private affairs increased from 8,645 people in 1985 to 832,566 people last year.

(Shanghai Daily November 23, 2005)