Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Hide the uncomfortable truth while promoting good nes stories:  in view of increased press freedom conceded to foreign reporters during the 2008 Olympic games, Shangdon’s provincial government has delivered it’s orders to officials.  In a document issued by the city government of Pingdu, all departments, organisations and officials were urged to “prepare for the challenge brought by the lifting of restrictions on foreign media”.

According to the document, it is necessary to “use all measures to downsize the impact of negative reporting to a minimum level. Moreover it will be necessary to report to the city publicity department before giving interviews”.

The Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games has assured the International Olympic Committee that it will “respect media freedom and foreign reporters will be able to cover the Games in the same way they covered the Athens and Sydney events”.

According to some Chinese reporters the Pingdu document shows “local officials are scared of the increased transparency brought by a more open media environment because only bad things need covering up, and only guilty officials fear publicity”. However the document “does not add anything new to already existing standards of repression: it is amusing to see them now written in black and white”.  

In China press freedom is all but inexistent.  Last September, the government issued a law imposing  Chinese agencies to use the official government press office Xinhua as there only source.  The agency also has the right to “choose news stories” and “cancel” prohibited material.

The long list of prohibited topics include:  “all news which targets economic or social order in China and puts national stability at risk” or “National unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity”. It is forbidden to report stories that “endanger Chinese national security”, as well as those which “may incite hatred or discrimination between ethnic groups”. As already is the case for local media and internet, now the foreign press is also banned from reporting items which “violate Chinese religious policies or promote evil cults and superstitions”.

Confirming the application of these restringing laws, yesterday  Ningbo’s peoples court condemned  Zhang Jianhong to six years detention.  The human rights activist is accused of having published “subversive articles” online.

Also yesterday the government closed down the China International Television Station, which “published illegal material online in the form of journalistic articles”.