Taipei - Taiwan police are searching for three Chinese tourists who disappeared while visiting the island, the third such incidence in a month, a newspaper said Thursday. 

The three Chinese women went missing Tuesday evening after they had left a hotel in Panchiao outside Taipei, telling hotel staff that they were going out to buy snacks, the China Times said. 

The three, aged 34 to 40, had taken their passports with them but left their luggage in their hotel rooms. 

Police suspect that the three are seeking either to remain in Taiwan or to go illegally to a foreign country. 

If they do not show up by Sunday, when their Chinese tour group returns to China, the Tourism Bureau will fine the travel agency hosting the tour group 600,00 Taiwan dollars 
(20,000 US dollars) for the Chinese women's disappearance. 

This is the third case in a month of Chinese group tourists disappearing in Taiwan. On June 25, three Chinese tourists vanished from a hotel near Taipei. On July 3, another member of a Chinese tour left the group unannounced but rejoined the group a few days later, the China Times said. 

If the missing Chinese tourists are arrested, they will be deported to China, as Taiwan does not allow Chinese to live or work in Taiwan unless married to Taiwan citizens. 

Taiwan and China are still political enemies, despite the fact that as early as 1987, Taiwan allowed its citizens to travel to China for family reunions, sightseeing and business. 

Taipei continued to bar mainlanders from entering Taiwan for security reasons but gradually loosened the ban to allow in mainland artists, athletes and academics. 

In 2002, Taiwan allowed Chinese groups to visit Taiwan as part of their overseas tours. 

On July 4, Taiwan fully opened its doors to Chinese tourists by allowing groups to arrive on the island on weekend charter flights. 

Since Taiwan allowed Chinese tourists to detour to Taiwan while on overseas sightseeing trips in 2002, some 130 Chinese tourists have left their groups to seek work in Taiwan or flee to a third country. 

Of these 130 Chinese, some 100 have been caught and deported to China while the rest remain missing. (dpa)