The administration of south China's Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, has issued a regulation forbidding the masseuses in beauty salons from massaging customers below the shoulder so as to curb possible prostitution.

As the city's first service guidance on hair dressing, the regulations affect all masseuses in all beauty salons, except for cosmetic surgeons. It will be enforced beginning January 1 next year. The regulations have been put on trial in the Yuexiu district from Wednesday.

Back massages in Thailand-style beauty salons will still be allowed, but consumers can lodge a complaint if they feel uneasy.

Beauty salons are often noted as places of prostitution in China.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2004)