From the arbitrary law department: I heard tonight that it is actually illegal to import vinyl into China. Why such a law might exist remains a mystery to me.
I also heard that there's this other weird law that stipulates that 'Side A' of a cassette recording is required to be longer than 'Side B' -- apparently PK14 had to re-order their track listing on their album Shei Shei Shei he Shei Shei Shei to conform to this law.
Anyone care to explain?
The probable reason that it is illegal, is because the Cultural dept should listen to every track for offensive basslines and its too much hassle.
The longer A than B on cassettes is probably to ensure that there actually is something on the tape of at least 18 minutes duration.
Posted by: Herbie | May 22, 2005 at 02:16 AM
Hey Jerry,
Actually, it's funny that you just came accross this rule about vinyl. Getting a visa recently, I read the info or maybe it was an addendum and it listed the law about vinyl. I can't remember if it had to do with importing or exporting vinyl though. I remember thinking that it sucks, cause if I find any old records, I couldn't take them out of China with me!
Posted by: Nat | July 23, 2005 at 12:43 AM
according to the USPS website country info for china, shipping vinyl to china is illegal only if it is harmful to china:
"Manuscripts, printed matter, photographic negatives, gramophone records, films, magnetic tapes, video tapes, etc., which could do political, economical, cultural, or moral harm to the People's Republic of China."
Posted by: william | June 28, 2006 at 03:07 PM