China to issue manual on overseas NGO registration

China's public security authorities are soliciting public opinion on a draft manual about registration of overseas NGO representative offices.

According to a symposium on overseas NGOs co-organized by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and Shanghai Public Security Bureau held in Shanghai on Friday, the manual will be published before China's new law on overseas NGOs takes effect in January 2017.

The MPS has been working on measures to provide efficient services to overseas NGOs operating in China in accordance with the law, said Hao Yunhong, head of the MPS overseas NGO management office.

According to Hao, the MPS has set up a coordination mechanism with other related departments to study and deal with issues in overseas NGO management and services.

More documents are being drafted, including a catalogue of fields and activities in which overseas NGOs are allowed to operate in China, as well as a list of authorities in charge of their operation, said Hao.

Hao also said the MPS is working to establish a database and a website on overseas NGO management, which will enable overseas NGOs to make appointments for registration or submit materials online.

At present, provincial public security authorities are setting up specialized windows for overseas NGOs and their foreign staff to register or apply for work and residence permits at exit-entry service centers.` Representatives of nine overseas NGO offices in Shanghai, including the United States-China Business Council and China-Britain Business Council, attended the meeting and made suggestions.