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China's press freedoms extended China's press freedoms extended
(about 1 hour later)
China has extended rules that gave foreign reporters greater freedom during the Beijing Olympics. China has extended some of the rules that gave foreign reporters greater freedom during the Beijing Olympics.
State news agency Xinhua said the temporary arrangement for the games, due to expire on Friday, would become standard practice.State news agency Xinhua said the temporary arrangement for the games, due to expire on Friday, would become standard practice.
It means journalists can continue to conduct interviews without applying to the authorities for permission.It means journalists can continue to conduct interviews without applying to the authorities for permission.
Critics say the rules, part of efforts to open China up to the world, did not stop harassment and intimidation.Critics say the rules, part of efforts to open China up to the world, did not stop harassment and intimidation.
Correspondents say the move to extend the rules has been eagerly awaited and is a sign of China's commitment to allow foreign journalists more freedom to report on a permanent basis.
But it is not clear whether other measures will remain in place, such as those which allowed journalists to travel freely around the country without the supervision of a foreign ministry official.
Restrictions remainRestrictions remain
How free are reporters in China?How free are reporters in China?
Despite repeated questions from foreign journalists about the issue, China has not until now said what would happen after the rules expire. Despite repeated questions from foreign journalists about the issue, China had not until now said what would happen after the rules expire.
China introduced the rules in January last year for foreign journalists who wanted to report on Olympic-related issues. They were introduced in January last year and covered foreign journalists who wanted to report on Olympic-related issues.
They allow correspondents to travel around China without first getting permission from the authorities - as they had to do previously. The rules allow correspondents to travel around China without first getting permission from the authorities - as they had to do previously.
"To interview organisations or individuals in China, foreign journalists need only to obtain their prior consent," the regulations state."To interview organisations or individuals in China, foreign journalists need only to obtain their prior consent," the regulations state.
HAVE YOUR SAY I do not think any of us will be holding our collective breath to see if Chinese officials will be less restrictiveShelia Bumgarner, United StatesSend us your commentsIn practice foreign reporters have had more freedom to do their work, but have not been completely left alone by the authorities, says the BBC's Michael Bristow in Beijing.HAVE YOUR SAY I do not think any of us will be holding our collective breath to see if Chinese officials will be less restrictiveShelia Bumgarner, United StatesSend us your commentsIn practice foreign reporters have had more freedom to do their work, but have not been completely left alone by the authorities, says the BBC's Michael Bristow in Beijing.
Certain sensitive areas, such as Tibet, were off limits, and correspondents have continued to be detained by the authorities.Certain sensitive areas, such as Tibet, were off limits, and correspondents have continued to be detained by the authorities.
Also these regulations do not apply to Chinese journalists, who face a high degree of control and censorship by the Chinese government. There have been hundreds of reports of foreign journalists being intimidated or harassed by officials who were either not aware of the rules or chose to ignore them.
The BBC's China Editor, Shirong Chen, says China's leaders are aware that they need foreign journalists in order to communicate with the international community but that ensuring real freedoms on the ground will remain a challenge.
Significantly, the regulations do not apply to Chinese journalists, who will continue to face a high degree of control and censorship by the Chinese government.