Thomas kicked out of China

HOBART Alderman Damon Thomas has been refused entry into China after a visa gaffe.

Ald Thomas said he arrived in China, family in tow, on Saturday evening when he discovered he had the incorrect visas.

In a Facebook post, Ald Thomas says: “We arrived in China yesterday (Saturday) only to be denied entry as our travel agent completely misinformed us about shortstay visa requirements.

“Not funny being trapped in that no man’s land space between the plane and immigration.”

Ald Thomas said he was stuck at Guangzhou Airport for about five hours. Ironically, Ald Thomas was attempting to fly from Guangzhou to Xi’an — Hobart’s friendship city.

“The agent told us that we could go from Guangzhou to Xi’an on a three-day visa but that was wrong,” he said.

“You can’t use that visa to go through parts of China.

“The whole idea was to introduce the family to Xi’an.”

Ald Thomas attempted diplomacy with the Chinese officials but ultimately had to return home four days earlier than planned

Ald Thomas said the 42-hour ordeal of planes and airports had not put him off a return trip to China in the future.

“We need to do what we can to further our relationship with Xi’an,” he said. “In my own view we must maintain the relationship and build on it.”