汕头作为广东省域副中心城市，是中国东南沿海重要港口城市，中国著名的侨乡，也是中外人士和睦相处的美好家园。

新冠肺炎疫情发生以来，汕头市坚决贯彻党中央、国务院的决策部署和省委、省政府的工作要求，坚持依法、科学、有序开展疫情防控工作，汕头人民同心合力、共抗疫情，经过不懈努力，全市疫情防控持续向好态势不断拓展。在抗疫的过程中，我们得到了外国地方政府、民间组织、友好人士的关心和支持，更加坚定了我们战胜疫情的信心和决心。

当前，我市疫情防控“外防输入、内防反弹”压力仍然很大，不断织密织牢疫情防控网络，保障在汕中外人士的生命安全和身体健康，需要大家持续共同努力。病毒没有国界，疫情不分种族，唯有团结协作、携手应对，才能共同战胜疫情。为此，我们谨向在汕的中外人士特别声明：

1.汕头市政府采取了全面、严格、彻底的防控举措，依法依规、严格执行无差别的健康服务管理措施，对所有在汕的中国公民和外国侨民一视同仁，对所有国家在华侨民一视同仁。

2.我们坚持人文关怀，在实施疫情防控措施和健康管理服务时，充分考虑中外人士的合理关切，提供必要的保障和服务，切实保障合法权益。

3.为有效防控传染病传播，根据中国有关法律法规，在汕的中国公民和外国侨民均有义务配合各级政府和相关部门实施防疫抗疫措施，违反法律法规将承担相应的法律责任。

4.在开展疫情防控工作中，我们反对任何针对特定人群的差异性做法，对歧视性言行零容忍。

5.任何单位和个人不得因国籍、种族、性别、肤色等原因限制或拒绝特定人群入住旅店、租住房屋，以及出入社区、商场、公园等公共场所。

6.任何单位和个人不得因国籍、种族、性别、肤色等原因限制或拒绝特定人群搭乘地铁、公交车、出租车等公共交通工具；不得拒绝对特定人群提供理发、购物、餐饮等日常生活服务。

7.任何单位和个人不得因国籍、种族、性别、肤色等原因对特定人群前往医疗机构就医采取区别对待和歧视性做法。

8.汕头市政府尊重和保护外国在华外交领事人员的外交领事特权与豁免，并为其履行外交领事职责提供便利。

9.在此疫情防控的特殊时期，请在汕的中外人士通过权威媒体渠道了解疫情防控信息，理性看待、正确判断，保持理性，明辨是非。

10.我们为在汕外国人反映涉疫情防控的合理诉求提供协助，如遇问题，可拨打24小时多语种咨询服务热线1258088进行咨询。

我们期待在汕的中外人士和衷共济、共克时艰，为维护中外朋友共同的健康福祉，为最终战胜疫情，共创美好未来而共同努力。

          中共汕头市委外事工作委员会办公室

           2020年4月20日          

Together We Shall Beat COVID-19

Together We Shall Build a Bright Future

- A Letter to Everyone in Shantou

Shantou, as a sub-central city in Guangdong Province, is an important port city，a famous hometown to numurous overseas Chinese, and a beautiful place for both Chinese and international friends to live together harmoniously .

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Shantou has been implementing with firm resolve the strategic decisions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, and adhering to the requirements of Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and Guangdong Provincial People’s Government. We have tried our best to ensure effective and orderly implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures based on science and law. Through unremitting endeavour made by everyone in Shantou, the COVID-19 outbreak in the city has witnessed positive developments. During this process, we have received tremendous support from municipal governments of overseas countries, civil organizations and people working on facilitating constructive bilateral relations, which has further strengthened our confidence and determination to overcome the pandemic.

At this moment, we are faced with a major challenge - “preventing imported cases from abroad and preventing a second wave at home”. To address this challenge, and to ensure the health and safty of every person in Shantou, we all need to work together and spare no effort in preventing the further spread of COVID-19. Virus knows no borders and races, only in solidarity can we win the war against COVID-19. Therefore, we would like to remind everyone in Shantou of the following:

1.  Shantou has implemented comprehensive, strict and thorough COVID-19 prevention and control measures. Everyone is subject to the same treatment regardless of their nationality, skin colour or gender. We strongly oppose any differentiated actions taken against specific groups and we have zero tolerance over discriminatory language or acts. 

2. Provide necessary care and support. While implementing COVID-19 prevention and control measures and delivering health administration services, we must address the reasonable concerns of everyone in Shantou and provide necessary safeguard measures and support to ensure their legitimate rights and interests.

3.In order to effectively prevent and control the spread of communicable diseases, all people in Shantou are obliged to provide support to the implementation of disease control and prevention measures according to relevant laws and regulations in China. Anyone who violates relevant laws and regulations shall be held legally liable.

4. We firmly oppose any discriminatory practice against specific individual or group, and allow zero tolerance for discriminatory remarks and deeds.

5. No entity or individual shall restrict or deny specific groups of people from checking in at hotels, renting properties or entering into public places such as residential blocks, shopping malls or parks, on the basis of nationality, skin colour or gender.

6. No entity or individual shall restrict or deny specific groups of people from using public transport such as the subway, buses, taxis or water buses on the basis of nationality, skin colour or gender; daily essential services such as shopping, hairdressing shall be available and accessible to everyone regardless of their nationality, skin colour or gender.

7. Any organization or individual shall not apply differentiated treatment or discriminatory practices to any specific group of people because of their nationality, race, gender or skin colour when they are seeking medical care in medical institutions.

8.Shantou Municipal Government respect and protect the diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities of foreign diplomatic or consular personnel in China, and provide facilitation for them in fulfilling diplomatic and consular duties.

9.In this special period of time, we encourage all Chinese and foreign nationals in Shantou to obtain the latest information concerning epidemic prevention and control from authoritative sources, and to maintain a rational and objective attitude.

10. We provide assistance for foreign nationals in Shantou who have any reasonable request concerning epidemic prevention and control. Our multilingual service hotline 1258088 is 24-hour available. 

We look forward to working with all Chinese and foreign nationals in Shantou to tide over the difficulties, safeguard the common health and well-being of all, to win the battle against COVID-19, and protect our beautiful homeland.

Shantou Foreign Affairs Bureau

April 19th, 2020