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  Internet cafes banned around schools, residential areas   (Xinhua)  Updated: 2004-03-24 16:37  
 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 in Beijing 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. 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
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