Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China

Selected Legal Provisions of the
People's Republic of China
Affecting the Free Flow of Information

The CECC has prepared the following list of PRC legal provisions as a resource for those interested in how the PRC regulates freedom of expression. It is for reference only, and the selection of legislation and the provisions thereof is not intended to be comprehensive. Furthermore, although this document may be updated from time-to-time, it may not reflect the most recent legislative developments in this area.

This document includes notices from the Supreme People's Court and national laws and regulations formally enacted by legislative and administrative bodies at the central government level. It does not include other legal and political documents that also influence the free flow of information in the PRC, such as provincial and local regulations and Chinese Communist Party orders.

Some of the documents in this list are not necessarily currently applicable, but have been included because they illustrate the degree and manner of control PRC authorities exercise over who can publish and what can be published (see, e.g., the 1987 "Strike Hard" notice).

Finally, this document includes primarily those provisions that can be used to restrict a person's right to write down and disseminate news and opinions (i.e., administrative prior restraints, defamation and national security law, and content based restrictions). There is, however, also a significant body of PRC statutory and case law that influences the ability of PRC citizens to freely express themselves, such as those regulations on broadcasting, movies, intellectual property, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, access to information, and the printing industry.

This document currently provides only Chinese language text of the selected provisions. It is intended that English translations will be provided in a future update.

The materials available at this web site are for research and informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Although this website may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from qualified counsel, and you are not authorized to rely on this web site as a source of legal advice. The information provided on this web site is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including without limitation warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or noninfringement. Any liability that may arise from your use of or reliance on the information on this site or any links from this site, including, but not limited to, reliance on the accuracy or effectiveness of any Chinese legal provisions, is expressly disclaimed.

Click here to view the document in Adobe PDF Format.