More than 700 problematic entertainment venues have been shut down in Beijing during a week of special task law enforcement activities led by the city's public security departments.
   
An official with the brigade for administration of public order of the municipal public security bureau said that from June 20 to July 3, the bureau raided 1,700 places of entertainment which were running on expired or without proper permits, providing escort services or running prostitution rackets under the guise of a valid entertainment venue. The raids were conducted in cooperation with other departments of industry and commerce, market administration and culture.
   
The law enforcement workers ordered over 700 of the 1,700 venues to be shut down permanently. Others were closed temporarily subject to mandatory improvements. Fines were also imposed on business owners, the official added.
   
321 people suspected of prostitution, illegal gambling, drug abuse or trafficking, and using escort services were detained.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2005)