The Ministry of Public Security published a circular on its website yesterday that it said it recently sent to local police departments, ordering them to help curb cross-border gambling by targeting agencies that organize employment for and excursions to casinos in neighboring countries.

"Various levels of local public security departments must adopt more effective measures to prevent overseas gambling venues from establishing agencies in China, under the pretext of being entertainment companies, in order to attract Chinese customers," the circular said.

The date it was issued was not reported, but it said "officials who neglect their duties will be investigated" and punished in accordance with the law.

It said agencies organizing tours for Chinese gamblers to overseas casinos should not be given permission to run them by local police, and any agencies set up on the mainland by foreign gambling houses should also be closed.

The circular also required border inspection checkpoints to strengthen examinations in border areas.

Ministry sources said they would work together with other departments to enforce regulations that forbid employment agencies dispatching people to work in overseas gambling companies, or employees who have worked in them from leaving China for one to five years.

Earlier this year, joint operations with authorities in neighboring countries resulted in the closure of many casinos in their border areas. But, according to Xinhua News Agency, many have recently made a comeback, once again catering mainly to Chinese gamblers.

(China Daily September 15, 2005)