Beijing police has launched a campaign against prostitution in the Chaoyang District, which had become rampant after Lunar New Year.
One hundred and three suspects were arrested in the campaign in the Sanlitun Bar Street, and several underground brothels were closed down. Some game houses involving gambling were closed, too.
Most brothels in Beijing operate behind the facade of beauty salons, public bathhouses or teahouses. The police promise that the real bosses of these brothels will be ferreted out and punished.
A six-month time period will be given to these places for rectification, and those which fail to do so will be closed down permanently. The landlords will be punished, too, if they know what their premises are used for.
In the first quarter of 2007, Beijing police had successfully closed down 123 brothels, gambling houses, and drug parlors, and 6,350 suspects were arrested, with more than 4 million yuan of illegal income being confiscated.
(Chinanew.cn April 12, 2007)
