Ningxia Government Agencies Launch Campaign To "Discipline" Local Printing Enterprises

October 3, 2005

The local divisions of the General Administration of Press and Publication, Ministry of Public Security, State Administration of Industry and Commerce, State Copyright Office, and the Sweep Away Pornography and Strike Down Illegal Publications Task Force are launching a joint campaign to "discipline" printing enterprises in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, according to a September 1 report on Xinhua's Web site. The report said that among the targets of the campaign are enterprises engaged in publishing illegal political publications.

Chinese law prohibits Chinese citizens from printing books without government permission. The Chinese government imposes administrative penalties (including confiscation) and criminal penalties (including imprisonment) on violators. For example. the Christian minister Cai Zhuohua and several of his family members are currently awaiting a verdict in their trial for printing Bibles and other Christian literature without government authorization.