Internet cafes in Shenzhen caught repeatedly admitting juveniles will have their licenses suspended, Daily Sunshine reported on April 4.

 

A monthlong campaign to clamp down on illegal premises will also be launched in the city, the report said.

 

Property owners who offer Internet access to unlicensed operators will face a penalty of up to 20,000 yuan (US$2,564), and those with safety hazards may be fined as much as 500,000 yuan.

 

Net cafes found admitting minors three times will have their licenses suspended as well as facing a penalty.

 

Shenzhen has more than 1,000 licensed Net cafes, and the authorities will not approve any new operations this year, according to the Daily Sunshine report.

 

Of the legally registered Net cafes, 20 percent are losing money, a smaller number are making profits, and the majority are just about making ends meet, according to a recent survey by the local Net cafe federation.

 

(Shenzhen Daily April 6, 2007)