Ideas sought to boost city's Olympics effort

Beijing's municipal government has given its departments until the end of the month to come up with ways for the city to support the 2008 Olympic Games, including whether city residents should take a holiday during the event.

The city is looking for proposals from its 27 departments on 72 Olympic-related issues, from introducing free public transport during the period, to how to manage population flow and the ownership of properties managed by the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. The suggestions will be compiled into draft legislation that will be enacted into law.

According to Beijing's Olympics legislation co-ordination team, the 2008 Games will differ from previous events in the city because the powers of municipal administrations and law enforcement agencies will be based on legislation rather than government administrative orders.

The team said the legislation was needed to inform visitors to Beijing about acceptable behaviour and give law enforcement officers a clear understanding of their duties.

Vice-Mayor Ji Lin told China Central Television the government would investigate relevant departments if problems emerged within their area of responsibility during the Games.

Xu Jihui, director of the environment department of the 2008 Olympics environment and construction command centre, said some regulations would be retained after the Olympics but others would be abolished, the Beijing News reported.