REGULATIONS CONCERNING FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AND PERMANENT OFFICESOF FOREIGN NEWS AGENCIES
Important Notice: (注意事项)
英文本源自中华人民共和国务院法制局编译, 中国法制出版社出版的《中华人民
共和国涉外法规汇编》(1991年7月版).
当发生歧意时, 应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准.
This English document is coming from "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document (法规全文)
REGULATIONS CONCERNING FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AND PERMANENT OFFICES
OF FOREIGN NEWS AGENCIES
(Adopted by the State Council at the 53rd Executive Meeting on
January 11, 1990, promulgated by Decree No. 47 of the State Council of the
People's Republic of China on January 19, 1990 and effective as of the
date of promulgation)
Article 1
These Regulations are formulated for the purpose of promoting inter-
national exchanges and the dissemination of information, regulating the
activities of foreign journalists and permanent offices of foreign news
agencies within the territory of China and facilitating their journalistic
work.
Article 2
The present Regulations shall apply to resident foreign correspondents,
foreign reporters for short-term news coverage (hereinafter both referred
to as foreign journalists) and permanent offices of foreign news agencies.
Resident foreign correspondents refer to the professional journalists
dispatched by foreign news agencies, in accordance with these Regulations,
to be stationed in China for a period of more than 6 months for news
coverage and reporting. Foreign reporters for short-term news coverage
refer to the professional journalists who come to China and stay for a
period not exceeding 6 months for news coverage and reporting in
accordance with these Regulations.
Permanent offices of foreign news agencies refer to branch offices
composed of one or more staff members and established within the territory
of China by foreign news agencies for news coverage and reporting in
accordance with these Regulations.
Article 3
The Government of the People's Republic of China shall protect according
to law the legitimate rights and interests of foreign journalists and of
the permanent offices of foreign news agencies and provide them with
facilities for their normal journalistic activities. Foreign journalists
and permanent offices of foreign news agencies must abide by the laws and
regulations of the People's Republic of China.
Article 4
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
(hereinafter referred to as the Foreign Ministry) is the competent
authority in charge of the affairs concerning foreign journalists and the
permanent offices of foreign news agencies in China.
Article 5
A foreign news agency wishing to send a resident correspondent to China
shall file an application with the Information Department of the Foreign
Ministry (hereinafter referred to as the Information Department). The
application must be signed by the head of its headquarters and contain the
following particulars, with necessary papers attached thereto:
(1) basic facts about the news agency;
(2) the name, sex, age, nationality, position, curriculum vitae and the
place of intended residence of the correspondent to be sent; and
(3) the professional correspondent certificate of the correspondent.
If one resident correspondent is to be sent by two or more foreign news
agencies, these agencies shall submit separate applications according to
the procedures as stipulated in the preceding paragraph and indicate in
their respective applications the posts held concurrently by the said
correspondent.
Article 6
Upon approval of the application, the resident foreign correspondent to be
sent shall, within 7 days of his/her arrival in China, register with the
Information Department on presentation of an appointment letter signed by
the head of the headquarters of the relevant news agency and his/her
passport, and obtain the Foreign Journalist Identity Card.
A resident foreign correspondent to reside in a place other than Beijing
shall, within 7 days of his/her arrival in China, go through the
procedures as stipulated in the preceding paragraph at the relevant
foreign affairs office of the local people's government entrusted by the
Information Department (hereinafter referred to as the authorities
entrusted by the Information Department).
Article 7
A foreign news agency shall apply to the Information Department if it
wishes to set up a permanent office in China. The application shall be
signed by its legal representative and shall contain the following
particulars, with necessary papers attached thereto:
(1) basic facts about the news agency;
(2) the name of the office to be set up in China, the place of intended
residence, business scope, number of staff as well as the name, sex, age,
nationality, position and curriculum vitae of the head of the office and
those of other members; and (3) a copy of the registration certificate of
the news agency issued by its home country.
Article 8
Upon approval of the application, the head of the permanent office to be
set up shall, within 7 days of his/her arrival in China, register with the
Information Department on presentation of an appointment letter signed by
the legal representative of the foreign news agency concerned and his/her
passport and the passports of other members, and obtain the Certificate
for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency in China. The head of a
permanent office of a foreign news agency in a place other than Beijing
shall, within 7 days of his/her arrival in China, go through the
procedures as stipulated in the preceding paragraph at the authorities
entrusted by the Information Department.
Article 9
If a foreign news agency wishes to send an acting correspondent in the
absence of its resident correspondent in China for a period of no less
than one month and no more than 6 months, the head of the agency's
headquarters shall submit in advance to the Information Department or the
authorities entrusted by it a written application which shall contain the
name, sex, age, nationality, position, curriculum vitae of the acting
correspondent, with his/her professional correspondent certificate
attached thereto. The acting correspondent may not engage in journalistic
activities unless he/she obtains approval and due certification.
Article 10
A resident foreign correspondent shall apply to the Information Department
or the authorities entrusted by it for examination and renewal of his/her
Foreign Journalist Identity Card once every full year. Whoever fails to go
through such procedure within 30 days after the period due without
justification will automatically forfeit his/her status of resident
foreign correspondent.
Whenever a permanent office of a foreign news agency needs a change of its
head, a change in the size of its staff and other important changes, it
shall submit an application to the Information Department, obtain the
latter's approval and go through the necessary registration procedures for
the change.
Article 11
For foreign journalists wishing to come to China to cover a visit by the
head of state or government or the foreign minister of a country, the
application for approval shall be made collectively through the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of that country in advance to the Chinese Foreign
Ministry.
Article 12
A foreign reporter or journalists group wishing to come to China for news
coverage on a short-term basis shall file an application with a Chinese
embassy or consulate abroad or a department concerned in China. Upon
approval, the said reporter or group shall go through the procedures for
visas at a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad or a visa-issuing organ
authorized by the Foreign Ministry.
A foreign reporter or journalist group that is to visit China at the
invitation of a Chinese organization for short-term news coverage shall
apply for visas at a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad or a visa-issuing
organ authorized by the Foreign Ministry on presentation of the invitation
letter or cable.
Article 13
The Chinese host organization shall be responsible for arranging the
short-term news coverage activities of a foreign journalist within the
territory of China and render him/her assistance in this regard.
A foreign reporter for short-term news coverage shall obtain the consent
of the host organization for an extended news coverage in China with
justified reasons and shall go through formalities for extension of the
visa in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Article 14
A foreign journalist or permanent office of a foreign news agency shall
conduct journalistic activities within the scope of business as registered
or within that of the mutually agreed plan for news coverage.
Foreign journalists and permanent offices of foreign news agencies must
observe journalistic ethics and may not distort facts, fabricate rumours
or carry out news coverage by foul means.
Foreign journalists and permanent offices of foreign news agencies may not
engage in any activities incompatible with their status or the nature of
their profession, or detrimental to China's national security, unity or
social and public interests.
Article 15
A foreign journalist shall apply for approval through the Information
Department for interviewing a top leader of China, and shall apply to the
relevant foreign affairs departments for approval for gathering news from
China's government departments or other institutions.
Foreign journalists shall obtain in advance permission from the relevant
foreign affairs office of the people's government of a province,
autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government
for news coverage in an open area in China. They shall submit a written
application to the Information Department for approval, if they intend to
cover news in a non-open area in China. Upon approval, they shall go
through formalities for travel certificates at the relevant public
security organ.
Article 16
Resident foreign correspondents and permanent offices of foreign news
agencies shall rent houses and set up offices in accordance with the
relevant Chinese regulations. Resident foreign correspondents and
permanent offices of foreign news agencies may employ Chinese citizens as
staff members or service personnel through local foreign affairs service
departments, whereas the employment of citizens of their respective home
countries or of a third country as staff members or service personnel
requires the consent of the Information Department.
Article 17
Foreign journalists and permanent offices of foreign news agencies may not
install transceivers or satellite communications facilities within the
territory of China. They shall apply to the competent telecommunications
department of the Chinese Government for approval if they are to use
walkie-talkies or similar telecommunication facilities within the
territory of China
Foreign reporters for short-term news coverage in China shall apply to the
Foreign Ministry for approval if they are to carry with them or install
satellite communications facilities for special reasons.
Article 18
Resident foreign correspondent shall notify in writing the Information
Department of their departure 30 days before they leave their posts and
return their Foreign Journalist Identity Cards to the Information
Department or the authorities entrusted by it for cancellation before
their departure from China. A permanent office of a foreign news agency in
China shall notify the Information Department of its closure 30 days
beforehand and, after closure, it shall return its Certificate for
Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency to the Information Department or
the authorities entrusted by it for cancellation.
Article 19
In case of violation of the present Regulations by foreign journalists or
permanent offices of foreign news agencies in China, the Information
Department may, on the merits of each case, give them a warning, suspend
or stop their journalistic activities in China, or revoke their Foreign
Journalist Identity Cards or Certificates for Permanent Office of Foreign
News Agency.
Cases involving violations of the Law of the People's Republic of China on
Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens or other laws and regulations
shall be dealt with by the competent Chinese authorities according to law.
Article 20
Foreigners and foreign agencies other than the foreign journalists and
permanent offices of foreign news agencies as specified in the present
Regulations may not engage in journalistic activities in China. Due
penalty shall be meted out by the relevant Chinese public security organ
to any violator depending on the seriousness of the case.
Article 21
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be responsible for the
interpretation of these Regulations.
Provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the
Central Government may formulate implementation measures in accordance
with these Regulations.
Article 22
These Regulations shall come into force as of the date of promulgation.
The Interim Provisions of the State Council of the People's Republic of
China Concerning Resident Correspondents of Foreign News Agencies
promulgated by the State Council on March 9, 1981 shall be abrogated as of
the same date.