The Chinese Ministry of Culture (MOC) will apply new rules to tighten controls on the country's Internet cafes.
MOC spokesman Li Jinghe said in Beijing Tuesday that China's local culture departments would draw up training schemes for Internet cafe operators to help them better manage their businesses.
Meanwhile, culture departments will also set up an infringement mailbox and hotlines to further prevent Internet cafes from operating illegally.
Li emphasized young people under 18 were forbidden to enter Internet cafes under Chinese laws. Local culture departments would withdraw the operating licenses of Internet cafes if they allowed young people to enter a cafe on three consecutive occasions.
Local departments can also invite students' parents and teachers to supervise at Internet cafes, or accompany students to surf online via Internet services offered by schools.
MOC would make efforts to establish Internet management software for use across the country.
China has adopted a series of measures to regulate Internet cafes since May. So far, 110,000 cafes from the existing 200,000 have undergone government checks and been licensed to operate.
(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2002)
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