Foreign reporters covering the Olympics will have free access to
a "one-stop" service facility to assist visa and driving license
applications, interview arrangements, even accommodation.
The service facility, which will be available before and during
the Beijing Olympic Games, was launched yesterday.
As the name implies, the "One-Stop Service Office", stationed in
the Beijing Olympic Media Center, combines the services provided by
29 government agencies and departments, including the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Information Industry.
Among other services, the State General Administration of Sports
desk will mainly be responsible for hooking up interviews with
Chinese athletes and coaches; the Bank of China desk will help
newly arrived foreign reporters open bank accounts and exchange
currencies; the Public Security Bureau of the Beijing Municipal
Government desk will issue foreign journalists temporary driving
licenses valid for three months and temporary car plates for the
vehicles; and the General Administration of Customs desk will
answer foreign reporters' inquiries about customs procedures for
bringing reporting equipment to China.
Staff representatives from each of the 29 government agencies
will work in the same office for the convenience of reporters and
better coordination within the service facility.
According to Cai Fuchao, the Beijing municipal publicity head,
the "one-stop" service is "unprecedented in the history of the
Olympic Games" and is the fulfillment of Beijing's commitment to
"treat the media kindly" when it bid to host the Games.
He stressed the need to reduce paperwork, which has long
complicated the process between filing an application and getting
approval.
Foreign reporters in China have long experienced this
complicated process.
Jaime FlorCruz, CNN Beijing Bureau Chief and correspondent, said
the one stop solution was a great idea as it brought all the
service bodies together.
(China Daily July 2, 2007)