China reiterated on Wednesday that foreign journalists will be free to report during the 2008 Olympic Games as the Beijing Organizing Committee (BOCOG) released a service guide for foreign media on their coverage.

The Guide covers a dozen items that include journalists visa application, custom clearance, travel and interview, employment of Chinese nationals, rental of housing and offices, application for radio frequency occupation, acquisition of a temporary driving permit, taxation and insurance.

Foreign journalists could conduct interviews as long as they get consent from the interviewees, and will be given access to reporting public emergencies, according to the service guide.

Foreign media will also be allowed to sell their newspapers and magazines in designated outlets in Beijing and other co-host cities.

It is a "further effort" made by the Chinese government and BOCOG to facilitate foreign media organizations to report on the 2008 Games after the regulations on reporting activities in China by foreign journalists during the Beijing Olympics and the preparatory period took effect as of January 1, 2007, BOCOG said in a statement.

More than 20,000 international journalists are expected to flock to China during the Aug. 8-24, 2008 Games.

The full text of the Guide can be downloaded from BOCOG's website (www.beijing2008.cn).
 
Editor: Yan