The World - News from April 20, 1988

Chinese authorities do not plan to reopen Tibet to the thousands of backpackers who streamed through before pro-independence protests began last year, a U.S. official said. J. Stapleton Roy, deputy assistant secretary of state, who recently visited Tibet, said the Chinese “intend to keep it open, but they intend to keep it (travel)” in guided-tour groups that charge at least $27 a day per person for expenses. Enforcement of the provision that tourists join tour groups was tightened after a March 5 protest in Lhasa in which at least five people died. The Chinese charged that some foreigners joined in or encouraged the protest.