China has launched a campaign to fight junk e-mails, or "spam", during the first half of 2004, reported the China Police Daily last Saturday.

According to the circular jointly issued by the Ministries of Public Security, Education, and Information Industry, and the Information Office of the State Council, the campaign will focus on e-mail service providers and institutions with over 1,000 e-mail subscribers, including colleges, universities, institutions, and enterprises.

Statistics show that last year, about 70 million junk e-mails went to domestic e-mail boxes every day, including many which were pornographic or reactionary, or promoted gambling or spread computer viruses, said the China Police Daily.

Over 80 percent of the country's e-mail boxes and over 90 percent of the e-mail servers are to have taken prevention measures against spam by the end of June, said the circular.

It urged prosecution of those involved in criminal behavior such as spreading illicit material and viruses.

Local publicity departments in charge of on-line news should cooperate with the departments to fight spam and ensure the normal operation of e-mail services during the campaign, said the circular.

The circular also suggested legislation to regulate preventative measures and promote the sound development of Internet services in China.

(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2004)