支付环境建设是奥运金融服务建设的重要内容
新华网消息 近两年来，北京的百姓以及来到北京的中外朋友可能会感受到支付环境方面的很多变化：能够受理银行卡的商户越来越多，消费刷卡日益便利、安全；在首都机场、奥运指定酒店、银行网点，可以方便地兑换货币；流通中的人民币现钞整洁度日益提高，居民识别假币的意识和能力日益增强。特别是进入2008年6月份，细心的朋友可能会发现，在奥运重点区域，消费刷外卡和人民币卡同样方便；在一些大型商场、著名旅游风景名胜区的外币代兑机构，可以获得与银行一样的货币兑换服务；在各银行网点，反假货币和现金服务的中、英文双语指南，可以清晰地指导大家处理相关问题、办理相关业务。
作为2008年北京奥运会建设的重要组成部分，奥运支付环境建设受到党中央、国务院的高度关注。2006年3月，温家宝总理对加快推广使用银行卡作出重要批示。为贯彻落实中央要求，人民银行牵头与中央九部委联合成立了奥运支付环境建设工作领导小组，并于2007年3月制定了《关于加强奥运支付环境建设的指导意见》（以下简称《指导意见》），明确了奥运支付环境建设工作的指导思想、主要目标、工作重点和实施安排。
作为奥运会的举办地，北京市委市政府高度重视奥运支付环境建设工作，2007年5月成立了以常务副市长吉林同志任组长的"北京市2008年奥运会银行卡环境建设领导小组"，并把奥运支付环境建设作为北京市政府2008年折子工程加强督办，2008年4月23日，召开了北京市2008年奥运银行卡环境建设冲刺阶段动员大会。
截至2008年6月底，北京市圆满完成了《指导意见》规划的主要任务，为举办一届"有特色、高水平"的奥运会提供了有力的金融支付服务保障。
一、用卡环境基本达到发达国家发达城市的水平
以外卡和中小商户为重点，出台了中小商户受理银行卡的资金补助政策，开展了个体工商户个人结算账户POS收单业务试点，中小商户受理银行卡的积极性明显提高；督促银行大力发展奥运重点区域特约商户，召开了外卡商户覆盖率达标工作会，外卡商户覆盖率进一步提高。组织7个检查组，对16条重点街区、31个奥运场馆周边、112家签约酒店周边、16个旅游景区周边的4000多家商户进行"拉网式"检查验收，首都银行卡受理市场实现了跨越式发展。
截至6月末，全市可受理银行卡特约商户约11万户，比2006年底增长1.29倍；累计布放POS机具15.2万台，ATM机具近9400台，分别比2006年底增长1.27倍和48.8%；奥运重点区域人民币卡商户普及率达94.3%，外卡商户普及率达90.85%，分别比2007年6月末提高了48和65个百分点。6月份，剔除房地产、大宗批发交易后的刷卡消费金额占社会消费品零售总额的比例达到50%。
二、货币兑换服务奥运准备工作基本就绪
积极引导银行围绕奥运重点区域进行网点布局，发挥宾馆、饭店等外币代兑机构的优势，全面建设服务奥运的外币兑换服务体系。对奥运重点区域银行网点外币兑换情况进行全面检查，并及时就设立服务标识、推动双向兑换、改善兑换服务等方面提出15条要求。组织10个检查组，对奥运场馆重点区域的500多家外币兑换机构开展了为期10天检查验收工作，督促进一步提高服务水平。
截至2008年6月末，北京具备外币兑换业务资格的银行网点超过2000家。其中，奥运重点区域的295家银行网点全部具备外币兑换资格。另有外币代兑机构369家，其中，三星级以上酒店330家，占三星级以上酒店的80％。首都机场有代兑机构10家。所有银行网点及首都机场的外币代兑机构均开办了双向兑换业务。
三、账户和外汇服务水平全面提升
开通奥运账户审批"绿色通道"，做到当天报送、当天审批。抽调业务骨干进驻奥运媒体服务办公室"一站式"开展服务。国家外汇管理局推出放宽外汇账户管理、允许境内外汇划转、允许限额内提取外币现钞等系列便利化措施，简化了奥运期间在奥运相关区域内中国银行网点办理单笔等值1万美元以内的个人结售汇业务、境外个人购汇和未用完人民币兑回手续。
四、流通中人民币更加整洁
加大原封人民币新券投放力度，流通中人民币整洁度显著提高。上半年投放原封新券365.5亿元，同比增长211.2%，适宜流通人民币比例达到80.2%，超过规划目标5.2个百分点。协调增加硬币、小面额原封新券的投放，满足奥运期间地铁、商场等特殊行业的需要。开展奥运重点区域人民币流通管理检查，督促银行提高现金服务水平。举办反假货币培训班，组织17种挂牌兑换外币的鉴别技能培训。
五、支付系统的各项保障措施落实到位
围绕平安奥运，强化奥运期间支付系统运行管理责任制，进一步完善系统应急预案，开展了风险评估和风险排查，针对与奥运相关的业务系统存在的风险点，逐项开展了应急演练，督促银行进一步完善应急机制，提高了应对突发事件的能力。
六、金融服务软环境得到改善
奥运重点区域的银行网点基本设立了奥运金融服务专柜，悬挂、张贴了统一规范的银行卡、ATM机具、货币兑换、人民币防伪的中、英文双语标识。制作中英文对照的银行卡、货币兑换、反假货币服务指南，免费在酒店、机场等重点区域发放。建立咨询投诉平台，与市政府12345非紧急救助系统联动，及时解决境内外人士获取金融服务过程中遇到的问题。与相关部门密切配合，严厉打击银行卡、假币、非法外汇买卖等违法犯罪活动，金融市场环境规范有序。
The Entire Payment Approach in Beijing is Full of Achievements
Many more businesses in China today accept credit cards than just a few years ago. Cards are also easy to use at Capital International Airport in Beijing, select hotels and bank outlets to get Chinese currency. The entire payment approach has been streamlined and regulations loosened to allow freer flow of funds as the nation prepares for its biggest global event, the 2008 Olympics. By June 2008 the use of foreign cards became as convenient as local bank cards in areas near the Olympic Games. Currency exchange is now available at many large shops, tourist sites and every bank outlet.
Changes in modes of payment and easier exchange seem to have happened quickly, but it has actually taken years of hard work by the Chinese government. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council have viewed modernization of the payment environment as crucial to preparations for the 2008 Games. In March 2006, Premier Wen Jiabao directed the People's Bank of China (PBOC) and nine ministries and commissions to help further develop consumer financial instruments. A year later the group issued guidelines that specified goals and how to reach them.
Led by the PBOC headquarter, State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) and Beijing municipal government, PBOC operations office coordinates with some other relevant sectors, then specified rules on credit card services, accounts, foreign currency exchange and cash.
By the end of June, 2008, the main tasks of the Guidelines have been fulfilled satisfactorily and every indicator reaches or exceeds the related goals, which will provide a strong financial support for a distinctive and high-level Olympic Games.
Main achievements
Beijing's environment for credit card use has reached the level of major cities in developed countries. Businesses accepting credit cards number about 110,000 in the city, 129 percent more than at the end of 2006. Some 152,000 points of sale and 9,400 ATM machines now accept credit cards. At Olympic venues, 94.3 percent of businesses take renminbi cards and 90.85 percent accommodate international credit cards, respectively 48 and 65 percent higher than a year ago.
Currency exchange services have also been improved. By the end of last month 2,000 bank outlets were qualified to offer exchange services. Among them, all 295 are located in areas near the Games. As well, 330 hotels - 80 percent of the three-star or above hotels in Beijing - offer currency exchange. There are also 10 exchange outlets at Beijing Capital International Airport.
Bank account and cash services also have been improved. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange issued two temporary regulations to simplify foreign exchange at PBOC branches in Olympics areas. The condition of currency in circulation has also been improved through issuance of 36.55 billion yuan new notes in the first half of the year, an increase of 211.2 percent over the same period last year. The portion of renminbi suitable for circulation is now 80.2 percent, 9 percent more than at the end of 2006.
Other improvements include priority counters for exchange services in Olympics areas and signs in English at ATMs and exchange centers. Some banks will also have longer business hours to offer services and consulting. The overall banking system has been augmented to stop illegal credit card use, counterfeit currencies and illegal foreign currency exchanges.
Main Working Measures
The operations office of the People's Bank of China has made a range of moves to facilitate payment and currency exchange for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Among the measures now in place are:
1. Access for the disabled at small or medium sized merchants.
2. Greater numbers of businesses accepting foreign credit cards.
3. Directed commercial banks open branches near the Olympics and required hotels, restaurants and other currency exchange sites to provide better exchange services.
4. Allowed international currency exchange operations such as Travelex to open outlets at the Capital International Airport in Beijing.
5. Simplified foreign currency exchange services, including the opening of special Olympics accounts.
6. Assigned experienced staff to their media office for Olympic services.
7. Improved the overall quality of currency in circulation by releasing new notes.
8. Minted more coins for use in subways and shopping malls.
9. Provided sufficient cash reserves for the Olympic period and asked banks to improve their cash service.
10. Held training sessions on how to distinguish counterfeits in 17 types of currencies.
11. Held tests on how to cope with emergencies including problems with points of sale transactions.
12. Strengthened coordination with police to fight illegal use of credit cards, printing or using counterfeit currencies and illegal foreign exchange transactions.
