Published by: World Tibet Network News Monday - October 15, 1997

Beijing insists BEIJING, Oct 9 (AFP) - American tourists face no problems in visiting Tibet, the Chinese foreign ministry said Thursday, denying a report that US nationals were subject to restrictions following a secret visit by a US congressman to Lhasa.

"I see no problems at present for travel in Tibet," ministry spokesman Shen Guofang said at a news briefing.

The London-based Tibet Information Network (TIN) said in a statement received here Wednesday that individual US nationals travelling alone were ordered to leave the region by September 30.

TIN said quoting recent travellers to Tibet that the new measures were put in place after Republican Congressman Frank Wolf visited Tibet in August and spoke in harsh terms about China to the Washington press, provoking sharp protests from Beijing.

Foreign diplomats and journalists have to apply for special permit to visit Tibet but Wolf had not disclosed that he was a lawmaker and went as an ordinary tourist.