Regulations to be implemented during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing were discussed
yesterday afternoon at a Beijing Olympics Legislation Coordination
Work Meeting. The measures mooted touched on several aspects
including health and safety, and traffic.
The regulations were divided into the following five broad
categories: items under local government jurisdiction; items that
require coordination with the central government; items that do not
require special legislation; items that can be carried out under
current regulations; and others.
Sixty-five key items or issues were identified, and research and
drafting work is to start as soon as possible on 11 of those 65
items, including volunteers and security checks, which fall under
local government jurisdiction. They will be added to the
legislation plan of the Beijing municipal government later this
year or by next year.
Issues including the management of those without Beijing
residence registration, vacation time during the Games and vehicle
restriction will be solved through regulations to be stipulated by
the municipal government and other relevant departments.
Other matters such as special immigration channels at
checkpoints, and the entry of persons who are HIV-positive into the
country will be decided by the State Council.
According to Chinese law, carriers of four diseases including
HIV/AIDS are not allowed to enter China. The law is not in
accordance with the commitment China made when bidding to host the
Games. The matter will be taken up by the General Administration of
Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, and the
State Council.
Vehicle restrictions in the city and around Olympics
venues
According to Article 39 of the Traffic Safety Law, both the
public security and the traffic administrations have the right to
impose traffic restrictions in line with real-time needs. The major
measures under consideration include:
1.?Restricting vehicle numbers within the Fifth Ring Road
areas on the basis of license plates;
2.?Restricting or limiting vehicular traffic on certain
streets around Olympics venues;
3.?Cordoning off routes reserved for use only by authorized
persons or entities; and
4.?Provisional restrictive measures in case of
emergencies.
These measures are being drafted and should be completed by the
end of the year.?
Restrictions on non-Beijing vehicles
During the Games, the municipal bureau of public security will
impose restrictions on non-Beijing vehicles entering the city.
Vacation adjustments
In line with the Labor Law, certain manufacturing enterprises
are allowed to adjust their holiday schedules and calculate their
employees' working hours accordingly. Holidays taken during the
Games can be made up by working hours either prior to or after the
Games. Such shifts will not involve additional payment to
employees. However, not all enterprises are eligible. For the
service industry, some might have to work extra shifts. The maximum
number of holidays that can be taken during the Games is 16 days.
Employers are advised to consult the Beijing Organizing Committee
for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG). Government work units
and institutions are at liberty to schedule holiday shifts as they
see fit.
Public viewing at the Olympics Square
Big screens will be set up at the Olympics Square. Catering and
retail services will also be provided. Details relating to the
roles of relevant departments and agencies in managing this aspect
are being worked out.
No smoking in stadiums
The stadiums have yet to be included to regulations prohibiting
smoking in public places.?However, smoking in stadiums will
not be allowed during the Games in accordance with the no-smoking
Olympics agreement signed by the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The argument for bilingual signboards
Beijing's Foreign Affairs Office has been studying the
feasibility of converting all signboards by the end of 2007.
Free bus services
All athletes, registered media representatives and volunteers
will be provided with free bus services throughout the duration of
the Games. Spectators will also be able to take buses for free on
days when they have valid tickets for events.
(China.org.cn September 15, 2006)