China says it will allow demonstrations in three designated city parks during the Olympic Games in Beijing.
But anyone wanting to protest will have to apply for permission from the city's government and police.
The announcement suggests China will have a more relaxed attitude towards protesters during the Olympics than it had in the past.
Chinese citizens are already allowed to stage rallies, although in reality there are few anti-government protests.
The issue of protests is a sensitive one for China, which this year has had to deal with unrest in Tibetan areas in western China.
Chinese law lets ordinary people stage demonstrations, but few protests take place that are not sanctioned by the government.
To underline just how sensitive the issue is, the Chinese authorities seemed reluctant to publicise exactly where protests would be allowed.
A transcript of yesterday's media conference on the Beijing organising committee's website expunged the parks' names.
