China will ban government agencies and officials from running entertainment businesses in a bid to curb rampant corruption and clean up a sector that has proved to be susceptible to prostitution and other illegal practices.

According to new regulations on the administration of entertainment venues to become effective March 1, government departments and officials will face punishments ranging from demotion to dismissal if they are found to be engaged in entertainment businesses such as nightclubs, discos and video games parlors.

Cultural administration officials and police officers will also face penalties if they, their spouses, children or other close relatives are involved in these businesses.

Culture administration bureaus grant licenses to operators of entertainment businesses, while the police have wide-ranging powers over their daily operation.

There have been reports that some government officials or policemen in some regions are the de facto owners or are otherwise involved in running entertainment businesses, providing protection for their illegal services, such as prostitution.

The regulations, published in newspapers yesterday, ban nightclubs from admitting minors. Video game parlors should also be kept off-limits to minors except on public holidays.

Closed-circuit cameras are required to be installed in nightclubs and other entertainment venues, while transparent doors and windows should be installed for private rooms.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2006)