Turning Beijing into a quasi militarised zone for the Olympics
Spectators will not be allowed to bring banners or leaflets supporting commercial, environmental, religious, political, military, and human rights causes, among others, to any sporting event.
Banners, even those saying “Go China Go”, will be banned from venues, and people will not be allowed to wear clothes with "identical designs".
Banners and flags larger than two by one metres will not be allowed. Officials even said they would prefer that even smaller signs were not displayed in order to have “fair play environment for the athletes from all countries,” Huang Keying, a BOCOG official, said, adding that such rules are by and large like those that were enforced in Sydney and Athens.
Still during sporting events fans have been allowed to carry banners, dress up, dye their hair or paint their face to show support for their teams, but now there is even uncertainty as to whether people can wear designer clothes.
Streaking and public drunkenness have been banned and anyone caught in such acts can be fined or end up in jail. Public meetings and demonstrations are also prohibited.
By contrast, umbrellas will be allowed even though in the past they were often banned from sport venues for improper use.
People who disrupt the social order or are involved in actions that cause “severe consequences or social unrest” (however vaguely defined these offences are) could get up to five years in prison.
Large shopping centres will have to open and close an hour later between 20 July and 20 September, and state-run businesses cannot start work until 9 am, up to an hour later than usual. Other institutions will also have to adjust clock-on and clock-off times.
Only government departments, organisations providing essential services and schools will operate as normal.
The authorities are also encouraging as many people as possible to work from home.
What is certain is that Beijing residents are sick and tired of the rules and regulations imposed, which are making their lives more miserable.
The government has also shut down hundreds of thousands of projects as well as noisy polluting factories to clean the air and reduce traffic. It has also sent thousands of migrant workers home.
In order to prevent unauthorised projects checks are being carried out to make sure that no trucks with construction materials and cement gets into the city.
About 100,000 police officers and soldiers and 600,000 civilian volunteers are being trained for tighter controls.
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