The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan hereby adds its voice to
calls for Chinese authorities and the International Olympic Committee
to fully lift restrictions on Internet access for journalists covering
the Olympics. Since the restrictions on Internet access became clear in
late July, authorities have restored access to numerous sites. This is
a very welcome step toward greater openness. However, our colleagues in
Beijing tell us that sites related to Tibet and Falun Gong are still
blocked. These limitations fall short of the "complete freedom to
report" promised by Wang Wei, secretary general of the Beijing Olympic
bidding committee, in 2001.

We are also greatly concerned about what will happen once the Olympic
athletes, spectators and journalists go home. But we appreciate the increased openness and
accessibility resulting from the Olympic Regulations for Foreign
Journalists that took effect in January 2007.

However, in recent months, there have been reports of
difficulties obtaining reporting visas and, of course, the issue of
Internet access. Of even greater concern, the Olympic reporting
regulations expire in October. The FCCJ urges the government of the
People's Republic of China to make those Olympic reporting regulations
permanent as a legacy of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The FCCJ is ready
to cooperate with relevant authorities in any way to help make this
happen.

Those interest might also check out statements by the Foreign
Correspondents' Club of China at www.fccchina.org.

President Catherine Makino on behalf of the FCCJ
President Peter Alford on behalf of the Foreign Press in Japan