The reporter learned it from the working conference on the administration of the national cultural market, which was just brought to an end on Tuesday in Beijing. As revealed, the definition as dealt with in the regulation in regard to the Internet online business site refers to the "Internet Bars" where online services are provided to the public by way of computer setups, computer relaxation parlors for business purpose, etc.

However, those places for public welfare, such as computer classroom in school campus, computer training center, computer room, e-reading room of library and hotel business center are not under the governance of the aforesaid regulation.

The administration system as defined in the draft regulation is that the Ministry of Culture will make regular supervisions on the Internet online business sites, which are to be administered with license. The cultural sectors above county level will be responsible for controlling the online service sites and the public security, telecom sector and industrial and commercial sector will exercise their respective duties in accordance with the law and regulation.

As learned, the regulation has raised the accession conditions for the service sites to carry on the Internet online businesses on the principle of gross control and strengthening the work of monitoring and supervision. It has to be filed for the approval and to go through a strict approval procedure. When filed in the cultural sector the applicant for the Internet online business must first get permit from the fire control sector of the public security and information security before he approaches the industry and commerce administration for a business license.

To lay a hand on the routine supervision the draft has it stipulated that the three systems must be introduced, i.e. clients to be registered before entry into the site, to make intermittent onsite checkup and business operators to be trained before getting into the business. For those Internet online business sites without authorization or license, the industry and commerce administration and cultural administration have to administer a control by imposing penalties.

Again as learned, the recent a few months have seen three kinds of activities conducted for the "Internet Bars": from May to August, a special work being carried out by eight units from Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Culture for clearing harmful information away from the net; from May to October 1, a special activity carried out by the Ministry of Culture for regulating the services of the "Internet Bars" and from July 1 to August 31, a special handling being administered by the Ministries of Culture, Public Security and Information Industry together with the General Administration of Industry and Commerce for "Internet Bars" and other online business sites.

So, under the unified arrangement of the Ministry of Culture, the time from now on to August 31 will be a period for a comprehensive rectification to bring them to order. Local places must continue to clear away harmful information and get rid of the illegal "Internet Bars" and lay a strict hand on the business operation in violation of the law and regulations, especially for the underage to go into the bars and sites. The period from Sept.1 to Oct.1 will be arranged for the re-examination and re-registration and this is for those up-to-standard "Internet Bars" with licenses and permits. Resolute measures will be taken to cancel and put an end to all those without authorization and licenses.

However, for those of such case as incurred by the change of government functions who are up to the required standard may get re-registered in line with the new approval procedure as newly registered "Internet Bars" after October 1, 2002.

(People's Daily August 7, 2002)