China's Ministry of Culture issued a circular yesterday, requesting government cultural departments at various levels to confiscate four computer games, including "Sexy Sands" and "Chou Zuo". The four games apparently contain a high level of pornography, including explicit sex acts and naked people.

The circular permits each of the cultural departments to also punish companies providing these games. Penalties include warnings and a maximum fine of CNY15,000 when an online service provider or Internet cafe knowingly allows downloading, installing or use of these games. The businesses can be closed and the company license revoked if the infringement is "very serious".

Local media report that websites like Tencent's (0700.HK) QQ.com and Chinadotcom's (CHINA) China.com had previously allowed downloading of these games, but after the circular was distributed both websites closed down those parts of its sites that included links to the banned games.