Royal Caribbean Cruises reverses ban on Chinese passport holders imposed amid coronavirus fears
A major cruise line has reversed a ban on Chinese citizens travelling due to fear of the coronavirus after passengers accused the company of discrimination.
Key points:
Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau passport holders can now board Royal Caribbean vessels
They will still be subjected to extra health screenings, even if they have not been in China recently
Another company, Norwegian, is continuing its ban on Chinese travellers
Last week, the US-based Royal Caribbean Cruises issued a statement saying: "Any guests holding a Chinese, Hong Kong or Macau passport, regardless of when they were there last, will not be allowed to board our ships."
The company has now reversed its policy, which it said was made because of "governments around the world restricting travel for Chinese passport holders".
"Now that these governmental restrictions have been clarified, we are able to clarify our own policies," a spokeswoman said.
A 15-day restriction will remain in place for people who have travelled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
The ABC asked the company to specify which government policies it relied on when making its original policy, and what information it had considered when reversing it — however, it declined to answer.
Passengers 'judged on looks and background'
Earlier this week, Melbourne woman Connie Ciu said her family holiday plans were thrown into disarray by the ban, because her elderly mother is a Chinese citizen.
"I feel like I'm being judged based on my looks and my background."
Federal Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge was also critical of the policy, saying it could impact Chinese citizens who have not returned to their homeland for years.
On Wednesday, Ms Liu said she was pleased that her family could now embark on their to cruise to the Pacific.
"I'm sure [Royal Caribbean Cruises] received pressure from other parts of society," she said.
In an email to passengers, Royal Caribbean Cruises said additional "mandatory specialised health screenings" would apply to Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau passport holders.
"We regret to have to do this, but it is our responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy environment onboard our ships, as well as in the ports we visit," the company said.
Another major company, Norwegian Cruise Lines, is continuing its blanket ban on Chinese passport holders and any guests who have been in China, Macau or Hong Kong 30 days before a voyage.
Warnings of 'rise in racism'
The backdown comes after Australia's chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, raised concerns about xenophobia and "racial profiling which is completely abhorrent".
"Our risk population is people who have come from China from 1 February, not people of Chinese background, people who have come from China, whatever their background is," he said.
"We have not seen any case of sustained transmission at all in this country.
"There is no reason for people to be wearing masks.
Ms Ciu said her mother had been in Australia since October.
"I do feel the sense of being discriminated [against], purely being Chinese," Ms Liu told ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday.
"There's no reason for people to avoid anybody of any particular background or appearance."
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told Federal Parliament there had been "a rise in racism as a result of the coronavirus", and said the behaviour could not be tolerated.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also paid tribute to Chinese Australians, describing the coronavirus outbreak as "a very significant challenge".
Coronavirus death toll tops 1,000
The World Health Organisation has warned that a vaccine targeting coronavirus could be 18 months away, describing the virus as more powerful than "any terrorist attack".
The coronavirus has claimed the lives of 1,017 people in mainland China, where there were 42,708 cases.
Only 319 cases have been confirmed in 24 other countries and territories outside mainland China, with two deaths.
As of Tuesday morning, the Federal Government said there were 15 cases of coronavirus in Australia.
Fourteen of the 15 cases were people who had recently travelled from Wuhan province in China.
The Department of Foreign Affairs And Trade continues to advise Australians not to travel to mainland China due to the disease outbreak.
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FFS. You need to get your priorities right, people. The world could be ending and the left will find a way to put "racism" or "homophobia" at the top of the list.
It isn't "whitey's" fault that the virus originated in China, which... *gasp*.. houses people with Asian descent. Who would have thought?
Such a shocker that Labor leader Analboy is parroting this rubbish too. Well, they only have themselves to blame if they lose the next election.. and the one after that..
This is why I like Sky News. They were discussing this crap on of their talk shows last night, and yes, despite their obvious bias towards the Liberals, some of the folk there aren't afraid to speak their minds and tell it how it is, against their own "side" if they have to. Something you will never see on the left.
