Foreign Correspondents Club of China

-- Foreigners are required to carry their passports at all times; failure to do so could lead to unnecessary delays if you are stopped by police or other security personnel.

-- The FCCC advises correspondents to carry media credentials, preferably the Foreign Ministry-issued press card or another press card with a Chinese translation.

-- Some reporters covering dissidents or politically sensitive issues have been asked to show their residence registration certificate, provided by the local police. Hotels should be able to provide this to visiting journalists.

-- If you are covering a sensitive issue you may want to carry copies of your documentation so that police cannot "detain" you by taking away your documents.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

-- Carry a 24/7 mobile number for your embassy's press attaché.

-- Foreign Ministry media hotline numbers:

Spokesperson: 010-6596 3342, Mobile: 1391 086 9861

Tang Rui: 6596-2232, 1371 850 4926

Ren Yuhong: 6596-4338, 1368 108 7660

-- International Press Center:

Cong Wu 6596-3313, 1355 209 8629

http://ipc.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/

-- BOCOG (24hours): 6236-2008

-- Emergency numbers:

Police: 110

Ambulance: 120

FREE REPORTING REGULATION:

Carry a Chinese and English copy of the "Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists During the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period" (State Council Decree No. 477), to show to local officials who may try to stop you.

Link to Chinese version: http://ipc.fmprc.gov.cn/chn/wgjzzhzn/xgfg/t286081.htm

Link to English version: http://ipc.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wgjzzhznx/xgfg/t286115.htm

English version:

A. Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period

(Decree No. 477 of the State Council)

Article 1: These Regulations are formulated to facilitate reporting activities carried out in accordance with the laws of the People's Republic of China by foreign journalists in China to advance and promote the Olympic Spirit during the Beijing Olympic Games and the preparatory period.

Article 2: These Regulations apply to reporting activities carried out by foreign journalists covering the Beijing Olympic Games and related matters in China during the Beijing Olympic Games and the preparatory period.

The Beijing Olympic Games mentioned in the Regulations refer to the 29th Olympic Games and the 13th Paralympic Games.

Article 3: Foreign journalists who intend to come to China for reporting should apply for visas at Chinese embassies, consulates or other visa-issuing institutions authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

Foreign journalists who hold valid Olympic Identity and Accreditation Cards and Paralympic Identity and Accreditation Cards are entitled to multiple entries into the territory of the People's Republic of China with visa exemption by presenting Olympic Identity and Accreditation Cards, together with valid passports or other travel documents.

Article 4: Foreign journalists may bring a reasonable quantity of reporting equipments into China duty free for their own use. The aforementioned equipments should be shipped out of China's territory at the end of their reporting activities.

To bring into China reporting equipment duty free for their own use, foreign journalists should apply for the Equipment Confirmation Letter at Chinese embassies or consulates and present the Equipment Confirmation Letter together with a J-2 visa when going through customs inspection. Foreign journalists who hold Olympic Identity and Accreditation Cards and Paralympic Identity and Accreditation Cards may present the Equipment Confirmation Letter issued by the Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games when going through customs inspection.

Article 5: For reporting needs, foreign journalists may, on a temporary basis, bring in, install and use radio communication equipment after completing the required application and approval procedures.

Article 6: To interview organizations or individuals in China, foreign journalists need only to obtain their prior consent.

Article 7: Foreign journalists may, through organizations providing services to foreign nationals, hire Chinese citizens to assist them in their reporting activities.

Article 8: The media guide for foreign journalists of the Beijing Olympic Games shall be formulated by the Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games in accordance with these Regulations.

Article 9: These Regulations shall come into force as of 1 January 2007 and expire on 17 October 2008.

(The Regulations Concerning Foreign Journalists and Permanent Offices of Foreign Media organizations issued in 1990 remain valid after the implementation of the Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period. In case of any discrepancies between the two, the Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period shall prevail. With respect to matters not covered in the Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period, the Regulations Concerning Foreign Journalists and Permanent Offices of Foreign Media organizations shall apply.)