Internet cafes banned around schools (Xinhua) Updated: 2004-03-24 16:00
Local governments across China have been ordered not to approve any Internet
cafe operations in residential areas or within 200 meters of primary and high
schools.
The General Administration for Industry and Commerce (GAIC), China's market
watchdog, said here Wednesday that currently in China, many Internet cafes,
especially those without licenses, admit juveniles in violation of relevant
regulations and spread unhealthy online information.
"They have brought great harm to the mental health of teenagers and
interfered with the school teaching, which has aroused strong reactions from the
public," said the GAIC.
The Chinese government has, therefore, launched a nationwide check on all
Internet cafes from February to August so as to halt the entry of minors as well
as to prevent access to detrimental information through the Internet, according
to a circular released in February jointly by the Ministry of Culture, the GAIC,
the Ministry of Public Security and other relevant government departments.
During the period, the government departments will take resolute, unyielding
measures to enhance supervision over Internet cafe business and shut down those
with no licenses. Any such place allowing juveniles to enter or allowing
unhealthy information to spread through the Internet will face rigid, severe
penalty.
