Foreign reporters covering the Olympics will have free access to a "one-stop" service facility to assist visa and driving license applications, interview arrangements, even accommodation.

The service facility, which will be available before and during the Beijing Olympic Games, was launched yesterday.

As the name implies, the "One-Stop Service Office", stationed in the Beijing Olympic Media Center, combines the services provided by 29 government agencies and departments, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Information.

Among other services, State General Administration of Sports desk will mainly be responsible for hooking up interviews with Chinese athletes and coaches; the Bank of China desk will help newly arrived foreign reporters open bank accounts and exchange currencies; the Public Security Bureau of the Beijing Municipal Government desk will issue foreign journalists temporary driving licenses valid for three months and temporary car plates for the vehicles; and the General Administration of Customs desk will answer foreign reporters' inquiries about customs procedures for bringing reporting equipment to China.

Staff representatives from each of the 29 government agencies will work in the same office for the convenience of reporters and better coordination within the service facility.

According to Cai Fuchao, the Beijing municipal publicity head, the "one-stop" service is "unprecedented in the history of the Olympic Games" and is the fulfillment of Beijing's commitment to "treat the media kindly" when it bid to host the Games.

He stressed the need to reduce paperwork, which has long complicated the process between filing an application and getting approval.

Foreign reporters in China have long experienced this complicated process.

Jaime FlorCruz, CNN Beijing Bureau Chief and correspondent, said the one stop solution was a great idea as it brought all the service bodies together.

(China Daily via china.org.cn July 2, 2007)