With the development and deepening of China's drive to reform and open up, more and more foreign media organizations have set up permanent news bureaus in China and sent correspondents to work in this country. In order to facilitate the foreign correspondents' work and daily life in China, the Information Department has compiled this handbook on the basis of the "Notice to Foreign Resident Correspondents," and the previous "Handbook for Foreign Correspondents Working in China."

Authoritative and handy, the handbook is designed to serve journalists, and covers most facets of foreign correspondents' work and everyday life, such as applying for a foreign journalist's card, applying for interviews in China, hiring a Chinese secretary, renting or buying an office or a home, and paying taxes. We trust this guidebook will be very helpful to you during your stay in China.

We also advise foreign correspondents to thoroughly read the "Regulations Concerning Foreign Journalists and Permanent Offices of Foreign News Agencies" in the appendix, as it is an important document which foreign correspondents need to know well. The previous "Notice" and handbook will be abrogated on the day this handbook is published.




The editor
April, 2001