Mail security lifted for Games

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-6-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

CHINA'S postal service has suspended liquids and other material from the mail from June 1 until October 31.

The ban is part of security ahead of and during the Beijing Olympic Games, said a State Post Bureau spokeswoman.

During that period, all chemical products, powder goods, unidentified metal, mechanical and electrical products, sealed containers with unidentified gas or liquid are banned from delivery.

People who must mail parcels with the listed items will be asked to produce a safety certificate from local public security authorities.

Last month, Beijing postal officials said they would beef up inspections of parcels being sent to other Olympics host cities, including Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin, Qingdao and Qinhuangdao.

In mid-April, the Chinese aviation authority also instituted a liquid ban for carry-on baggage on domestic flights to ensure safety.

Meanwhile, a total of 160 explosive-sniffing dogs from around the country have been sent to the capital, where they will join 44 Beijing counterparts to help with security before and during the Olympics in August and Paralympics in September.

The dogs, all selected from local public security bureaus, are expected to serve around key facilities including Olympic venues, logistics centers, airports and VIP residences, after a month of intensive training in Beijing.

The dogs range in breed from Labrador retrievers and German shepherds to English springer spaniels.

Beijing has been using sniffer dogs to detect drugs in public places, such as the airport, subway and railway stations and shopping malls since June last year.