China released a self-discipline pact for Chinese search engine service providers to reject web porn Wednesday.

The new regulation, promulgated by the Internet Society of China (ISC), an industry group run by the Ministry of Information Industry, bars search engines from collecting, disseminating or linking to any websites with pornographic, illegal or inappropriate content.

Search engines must not provide services or set up any contacts with any of these illegal websites.

"The ISC should make sure that the self-discipline pact is well implemented to further crackdown Chinese web porn and promote a healthy environment on the Internet", said Cai Ming Zhao, deputy director of the State Council Information Office.

China has shut down 1,129 pornographic websites this year in response to public reports made over the official Reporting Center for Illegal and Harmful Information since June.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2004)