Up to 80 percent of the beggars lingering in Guangzhou are professional beggars, according to statistics from the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Bureau.

Representatives of the bureau advised provincial and central governments to ban begging in urban areas at a forum on administration of vagrants and beggars, which was sponsored by the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a top advisory body, on Tuesday.

Between January and May 2005, 15,401 vagrants and beggars in Guangzhou were sent to government welfare centers.

The exact number of vagrants and beggars in the urban area of Guangzhou is much larger than this figure.

"Most of them are professional beggars, who actually make a living begging," said Yang Zhongfa, vice-director of the bureau. "Only a few of them are really too poor to survive or have encountered real misfortune."

The beggars often force or pester passers-by for money. Some even commit crimes, Yang said.

In August 2003, the two-decade-old Measures for the Internment and Deportation of Urban Vagrants and Beggars was replaced by Measures on Aid and Management for Urban Vagrants.

The new regulation was expected to help improve the country's social relief system.

Aid and relief stations in Guangzhou have received 44,493 vagrants and beggars since then.

"But most of the professional beggars have taken up their old 'job' even after accepting aid," said Xu Fuyin, director of the Guangzhou Aid and Management Station.

Yang said legislation to restrict begging is essential. He advised the government to ban begging in certain busy areas, and punish people who beg in banned districts.

He also suggested the governments register all vagrants and beggars to improve management.

Guangdong CPPCC said they would collect all representatives' advice and deliver it to the provincial government.

Despite efforts to draw up measures to restrict begging, the vagrants themselves do not appear to be duly concerned.

A lame beggar sitting in the street in Guangzhou said he was from Henan Province. He can earn 20 to 30 yuan (US$2.4 to 3.6) a day begging. He even said the money was more than he needed.

(China Daily July 8, 2005)