From the Chinese press

Debate on dog meat should end

Officials in Yulin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, have made a public announcement saying the local government has nothing to do with the dog meat-eating festival, and orally asked restaurants not to slaughter dogs in public or attract diners for dog meat dishes through slogans and posters. This sudden change in the attitude of Yulin officials has surprised local residents and netizens both, says an article in Qianjiang Evening News. Excerpts:

Earlier, the Yulin local government had adopted a quite neutral attitude toward the dog meat-eating festival and selling of dog meat despite the issue sparking a debate across the country. Perhaps the local officials were initially indifferent to the issue because they were not bothered about local residents and/or tourists eating, or not eating, dog meat; what mattered most to them was whether the dog meat-eating festival attracted more tourists and thus business to increase the local GDP.