Accredited journalists can report in other parts of China

Though China is defamed for the supression of press, yet during Beijing Olympic it will allow accredited journalist to report from the other parts of China.

A Beijing Olympics official said today that accredited foreign journalists will be allowed to report from other parts of China during the 2008 Games, amid concerns about press restrictions.

HT Image

Media groups have voiced concern that Beijing won't allow unfettered access for journalists during the event and human rights groups say they fear a crackdown on dissidents ahead of the games.

China is known to harass aggressive reporters and has jailed dozens of journalists and Internet users.

However, asked by a reporter if foreign journalists accredited to cover the 2008 Games can venture outside of Beijing to investigate other issues, Wang Wei, executive vice president of the event's organizing committee said, "They can. It won't be a problem, as along the subjects agree to be interviewed."

Wang was speaking after a briefing on the 2008 Games at a business forum in Hong Kong.

Wang also said investigation into possible corruption by former Beijing Deputy Mayor Liu Zhihua, who oversaw billions of dollars of Olympic-related construction, is ongoing and reiterated earlier official statements that the scandal did not involve Olympic projects.