Free press campaigners protest at China block

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Five press freedom campaigners from France who said they were denied visas to China unfurled a huge flag depicting handcuffs arranged as Olympic rings in front of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong on Monday.

The protesters, from media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, had originally planned their international human rights day demonstration to take place in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, but on Friday they were barred from visiting China and two said they were blacklisted.

"We have eight months before the Olympic Games start to do something to improve the situation. One of the things we ask the Chinese authorities is to release journalist prisoners," said Robert Menard, secretary-general of the group.

The Games begin on August 8, 2008.

The rights group sent an open letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge last week detailing what it described as abuse of journalists and accusing him of allowing it to happen by remaining silent.

China responded by reiterating that foreign journalists would be welcome to cover next year's Beijing Olympics "in a fair and objective way".

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Paris-based group had "consistently attacked China".

Vincent Brossel, another of the campaigners who was denied a visa, said on Monday: "We are a press freedom watchdog and we have this campaign -- they don't like it. Maybe that's the reason they put us on the blacklist.

"But if they don't like the critics, how can they improve their standards in terms of freedom of expression? If they don't accept critics they are totally against the Olympic values ... You cannot prepare the Olympics in China without mentioning human rights issues."

Reporters Without Borders called on other countries and Olympic sponsors to apply pressure on Beijing ahead of the Games.

At the start of the year, China relaxed its rules to allow foreign journalists to travel around the country without the usual need for official approval. Some local officials and police, however, have often proved reluctant to comply.

Chinese reporters are still subject to censorship.

The IOC has said it is confident China will deliver on its commitment to allow freedom to report in line with that enjoyed at previous Games.

(Reporting by John Ruwitch, editing by Nick Macfie)