16th May 2008
(06:30GMT/13:30LOCAL) Awaiting progress with Visas. Chinese DFID approached officially by the British Consulate but still no word. A flight is booked from the most local airport on the mainland for 19:00 local time but it seems increasingly unlikely that visas will be issued in time to move personnel and equipment via ferry to the airport to catch that flight.
The whole team are fit and well but are becoming increasingly frustrated.