China may stop issuing multi-entry visas because of Olympics

According to the Wall Street Journal (login may be required), it appears that China may no longer be issuing multi-entry tourist (L) and business (F) visas from now until October 17, 2008 because of the Olympics. 

From the article:

Several visa agents in Hong Kong, a popular entry point into mainland China, said they received direct word from the China visa office here last week that effective immediately, issuance of the popular multiple-entry visas for foreigners was barred until after the Beijing Olympics. Single- and double-entry visas would be issued instead, they said.

The article does mention that China officials deny that they have changed visa policy.

If this is true, and reports I've heard seem to indicate that it is, this is a bad move for China. 

I have a trip planned to go to Beijing in October of this year and was looking forward to getting a multiple entry visa so that if the opportunity presented itself during the validity of the visa I could make another stop or two in China as a short stopover during other trips.  If China only approves me for a single entry visa I will likely not go through the hassle of getting another visa just for a quick stopover during another trip.