Beijing banning internet cafe.

[Blue]

I could not imagine of having to live in a country that dictates every movement or freedom. How can its citizens support this way of life? What a bunch of crap, "This is done purely to save people's lives and property." (see below)

Beijing Internet cafes shuttered after deadly fire

BEIJING (AP) — The Beijing government is closing most of the Chinese capital's hugely popular Internet cafes, cutting off access to the World Wide Web for many residents after a fire killed 24 people in an unlicensed cyber cafe.

A city official said Monday that the move was motivated strictly by safety concerns, but the closures coincide with a nationwide crackdown on Internet cafes. Thousands of such businesses have been shut down over the past year for failing to install software to track which sites users visit.

The communist government has encouraged the use of the Internet to promote business and education but has also banned pornographic content and material deemed subversive, including Web sites run by foreign media and the banned Falun Gong spiritual group.

More than 30 million people use the Internet in China, but many families can't afford to buy computers. Most of the customers at the cyber cafe that burned down Sunday were students who took advantage of the low Internet access rates offered late at night.

A spokesman for the Beijing city government said Monday that the capital's 2,400 Internet cafes were ordered shut down on safety grounds. Only 200 will be allowed to reopen, said the spokesman, who would give only his surname, Fan.

"This is done purely to save people's lives and property," Fan said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2002/06/17/beijing-internet-closed.htm

[GLADIATOR]

Hey, I have been in China. The health and safety is zero. Buildings are death traps.

If this place was shut down because builders are not complying with Bejing building laws, then so be it.

I do not think this is freedom of speech control, all people in Bejing have mobile homes, many have internet PC in their homes. Nothing is banning Internet, but safety must prevail. You of all people should consider that.

Less paranoi, more facts, saves lives.

[Blue]

My friend, you need to keep reading. There maybe some of those places that need to shut down due to safety, but the message was clear in the article about the governments reasons for shutting alot of these cafe down. Let me help you out ole chap!

"but the closures coincide with a nationwide crackdown on Internet cafes. Thousands of such businesses have been shut down over the past year for failing to install software to track which sites users visit.

The communist government has encouraged the use of the Internet to promote business and education but has also banned pornographic content and material deemed subversive, including Web sites run by foreign media and the banned Falun Gong spiritual group.

More than 30 million people use the Internet in China, but many families can't afford to buy computers. Most of the customers at the cyber cafe that burned down Sunday were students who took advantage of the low Internet access rates offered late at night"

[SysLord]

I think I have to agree with Blue here. I don't see any reason why an accident in one place should trigger the closure of 2400 other public places. I am sure you are right Glad where general safety is concerned in China but then many more places - coffee houses, cafe's, clubs etc - should probably closed for the same reason.

[Jake]

Hey Gladiator, if the health and safety is zero, then why do you think they'd clamp down on just one form of business? I think the timing is almost too coincidental.

Have you noticed one form of business more 'seedier' than another?