China's online population growing

China's small Internet population continues to grow despite strict government controls, reaching 1 million by the year 2000, according to official government estimates.

State-run news agency Xinhua said experts predict the number of citizens online will number 120,000 by the end of this year, up from 1,700 in 1993, Reuters news service reported today.

China began setting up its Internet services in 1993, although it didn't officially become an Internet member until 1994. Major subscribers include government ministries, banks, securities exchanges, police, and universities.

The increased usage has led the Beijing government to voice concern about pornography and objectionable political material potentially available online. In January, the Chinese State Council and Communist Party's Central Committee issued a statement vowing to take greater control over the Internet. Those measures came in February when the government announced that Internet users must register with the police within 30 days.

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