(The Information Office of the State Council combined with the Ministry of Information Industry issued the Provisions on the Administration of Internet News and Information Services on September 25, 2005. )

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Article 1. These provisions are formulated for the purpose of regulating Internet news and information services to meet the requirements of Internet news and information services, to maintain national security and the public interest, to protect the lawful rights and interests of Internet news and information services entities, and to promote the health and orderly development of Internet news and information services entities.

Article 2.  Internet news and information services entities in the People's Republic of China shall follow these provisions.

The news and information services in these provisions refers to news and information on current events, including reports and comments related to politics, economics, military affairs, diplomatic affairs, and so on, and reports and comments on sudden social occurrences.

The Internet news and information services in these provisions refers to publishing news and information, providing bulletin board services for current events, and transmitting current communications to the public via the Internet.

Article 3 The Internet news and information services entities engaging in Internet news and information services shall abide by the Constitution, laws, and regulations, by persisting in providing service for the people and serving socialism, and guiding public opinion to protect the interests of the nation and the public.

The state shall encourage Internet news and information services entities to transmit healthy and civilized news and information beneficial to improve the qualities of the people, to spur economic growth, and to promote social development.

Article 4 The Information Office of the State Council shall be in charge of nationwide Internet news and information services. The Information Offices of the people's government in the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government shall be in charge of Internet news and information services within their administrative divisions.

Chapter 2 The Establishment of Internet News and Information Services Entities

Article 5 Internet news and information services entities shall be divided into the following three classes:

(1) Internet news and information service entities publishing news and information that is beyond the range of what the entity has already published, providing bulletin board services for current events, and transmitting current communications to the public.

(2) Internet news and information services entities that are established by non-news organizations and that reprint the news and information, provide bulletin board services for current events, and transmit current communications to the public.

(3) Internet news and information services entities established by news entities and that publish news that the entity has already published or broadcast.

The establishment of Internet news and information services entities prescribed by Items 1 and 2 of the above clause shall be examined and approved by the Information Office of the State Council in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Establishing Administrative Exams and Approvals that Must Remain Subject to the Administrative Licenses and the relevant administrative regulations.

The establishment of Internet news and information services entities of Item 3 of Clause 1 of this article shall apply for registration to the Information Office of the State Council or the Information Offices of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government..

Article 6 As to Internet news and information services entities established by news organizations and cooperating with non-news organizations, news and information entities that hold more than 51 percent of the shares shall be regarded as Internet news and information services entities established by news organizations; news and information services entities that hold less than 51 percent of the shares shall be regarded as Internet news and information services entities established by non-news organizations.