By Ben Blanchard
Wang Wei, executive vice president of the Beijing Olympic
organizers, had promised media would have "complete freedom" to
report over the event, but rights groups have regularly
criticized China's commitment to that pledge.
China maintains a tight grip over the Internet, whose use
is exploding in the world's most populous nation, preventing
access to sites it considers anti-government, such as those of
the banned spiritual group Falun Gong or Tibet independence
groups.
"China has always been very cautious when it comes to the
Internet," Technology Minister Wan Gang told a news conference
as the Olympic torch was being paraded atop Mount Everest.
"I've not got any clear information about which sites will
be shut or screened. But to protect the youth there are
controls on some unhealthy websites.
"We will guarantee as much as possible" that sites will not
be blocked over the Olympics, he added. "Every country limits
access to some websites. Even in developed countries not every
site can be accessed."
As part of China's plan to hold a "high-tech Olympics,"
broadband wireless Internet services will be widely available,
according to a handbook issued at the same news conference, to
ensure "convenience for journalists (and) promptness of news."
Last week, the United States said again it was concerned
about Internet controls in China.
"We would hope that people in China would be able to have
access to all forms of information that are out there,
including those that are available online. And that would apply
to those who are full-time residents of China as well as those
who might be visiting for the Olympics," said State Department
spokesman Tom Casey.
In another area which has been a source of tension between
China and the United States, the protection of intellectual
property, Beijing said it was trying hard to ensure no pirated
Olympic products were available.
Unlicensed t-shirts, caps and other accessories carrying
the Beijing Olympics logo or the official Games' mascots are
sold openly on streets around China, along with a variety of
other pirated goods, including DVDs of Hollywood movies.
Last year the city issued 1 million yuan ($142,900) in
fines to those flouting copyright controls of Olympic symbols,
but an official admitted the battle would never be fully won.
"The law enforcement authorities are not able to guarantee
that infringement never happens. What we are trying our best to
do is combat it and crack down when we find it," said Liu
Zhengang, head of the Beijing IPR Bureau.
($1=7.000 Yuan)
(Additional reporting by Liu Zhen, and Paul Eckert in
Washington; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
(Take a look at the Countdown to Beijing blog at
http://blogs.reuters/china )
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