ΦΙΛΟΙ ΤΟΥ ΘΙΒΕΤ

From the NY Times:

June 3, 2008
By KEITH BRADSHER

HONG KONG — Do not bring any printed materials critical of China. Do not plan on holding any rallies or

demonstrations in China. Do not think that you are guaranteed an entry visa because you hold tickets to an Olympic

event. And do not even think about smuggling opium into China.
That is some of the eclectic advice issued by the Beijing Organizing Committee on Monday, in a document listing 57

questions that foreign visitors to the Olympic Games in August may have: “Does China have any regulation against

insults to the flag or national emblems?” “After eating or drinking at restaurants or hotels, if you have diarrhea or

vomiting symptoms, how do you lodge a complaint?”
The advisory to foreigners, posted on the committee’s Web site, but only in Chinese, provides answers for each

question in a deadpan style. (Burning or soiling the Chinese flag or emblems is a criminal offense; food poisoning

symptoms are to be reported to the local health department.) Some of the rules, like a ban on religious or political

banners or slogans at Olympic sites, appear aimed at preventing protests of China’s crackdown in Tibet this year and

other Chinese policies. (more…)