August 06, 1999

On August 06, 1999 at 8:30 morning at the Council of Ministers, there was a plenary cabinet meeting, presided over by Samdech Hun Sen Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia in order to review and pass:

1. Draft sub-decree on formalities to be implemented to allow foreigners, not immigrants to enter, leave and dwell in Kingdom of Cambodia.

2. Draft sub-decree on the organization and functioning of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor, Vocational training and Youth Rehabilitation.

After the active discussions and view exchanges, the cabinet achieved the results as follows:

Draft sub-decree on formalities to be implemented to allow foreigners, not immigrants to enter, leave and dwell in Kingdom of Cambodia

The Cabinet agreed and adopted the Draft sub-decree which is the new one to replace the old sub-decree Nš 29 dated on June 21, 1996. The draft sub-decree defines the formalities for foreigners’ entry into, exit from, and dwelling in Kingdom of Cambodia, not immigrants as stated in article 7 of immigration laws which stipulates that those foreigners who hold passports from the countries, listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and by the Ministry of Interior, tourists, pilots, crew, crossing passengers and those of Khmer descent, including their spouse and children may apply for a visa at international border checkpoints fixed by the Royal Government.

For visa duration and visa fee, the draft sub-decree sets the kinds of visas as follows:

- Diplomatic Visa noted by Latin letter A:

is issued for foreigners, not immigrants and their family who hold diplomatic passports and are on a diplomatic or private mission in Kingdom of Cambodia; or may be issued for other foreigners, approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

- Service Visa noted by Latin letter B:

is issued for foreigners, not immigrants who are on a mission in the framework of states or other international agencies who have a signed agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

- Courtesy Visa noted by Latin letter C:

is issued for the foreigners, not immigrants and their family to whom the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation considers a courteous expression.

- Tourist Visa noted by Latin letter T:

is issued for foreign tourists, not immigrants.

- Transit Visa noted by Latin letter D:

is issued for foreigners, not immigrants who are crossing passengers- pilots, navigators, crew.

- Normal Visa noted by Latin letter E:

is issued for foreigners, not immigrants.

The Cabinet also agreed to issue a new kind of visa, noted by Latin letter K is issued for those who are of Khmer descent, holding foreign passports and this visa allows many times entries and exits without paying visa fee and residency fee for the extension of stay.

All kinds of visas have a validity of three months if the period of three months expires, a new visa have to be applied for.

The draft sub-decree also stipulates that those who are in the following cases are not allowed to enter and temporarily stay:

invalid passports or travelling papers.

without entry stamp by immigration officers at international border checkpoints.

insane.

poverty-stricken- unable to feed themselves and their family, and without being sponsored.

involved in drug trafficking.

run prostitution business or other forms of sex trafficking.

work in Kingdom of Cambodia with no employment license.

have been declared persona non grata, except with permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation or Ministry of Interior.

support the activities to destroy the constitution of Kingdom of Cambodia.

stowaways

escape from trials for committed crimes.

sufficient credible evidence found out by a competent ministry that a passenger may devastate public interests or order, and

a competent ministry perceives that it does not want their presence in Kingdom of Cambodia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation can abrogate visas and permissions to temporarily reside in such cases as follows:

1-The visa holder has broken the rules of immigration laws of Kingdom of Cambodia.

2-The visa holder has been tried for a crime.

3-A forged or rubbed visa.

4-The two ministers perceive that the presence of visa holder may endanger national security.

Draft sub-decree on the organization and functioning of the ministry of Social Affairs, Labor, Vocational training and Youth Rehabilitation

The Cabinet agreed and adopted the draft sub-decree which states that the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation is given the mission by the Royal Government of Cambodia to direct and manage the fields of social affairs, labor, vocational training and Youth Rehabilitation in Kingdom of Cambodia. The Cabinet decided to give the field of vocational training to three ministries to cooperate and coordinate with non-governmental organizations to promote vocational training, and cooperate with business enterprises to strengthen and enhance the standard of vocational training, and cooperate with the Ministry of Interior to organize and provide vocational training courses for the convicts.

Also, in the cabinet meeting the Royal Government suggested the ministries and Royal Government members to pay much attention to the flood hitting Kampot, Keb, Kohkong and other provinces and appealed for emergency measures to be taken to rescue the victims.

The cabinet meeting ended at 12:30pm.

Phnom Penh, August 6, 1999

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