Strict capacity controls will be put in place starting April 1 for all entertainment venues in Beijing, including theaters, Internet bars, and dance clubs, and all will be required to install a bilingual (Chinese and English) emergency alarm, according to a new regulation issued by the local government.

This is the first rule of its kind in Beijing, as authorities focus on ensuring safety in the city's popular public hangouts.

The local government became concerned after a fire in the "Sunshine May" karaoke club in Beijing's booming eastern district of Chaoyang killed two employees on March 1. The bar, which did not have a business license, had been operating for less than a year.

The fire department inspected 182 hotels, restaurants, discos, karaoke bars, and bathhouses in the area, forcing 33 to close until they meet fire safety standards.

The new regulation stipulates that capacity limits will vary based on the district, with the per capita minimum standard for all businesses at 1.5 square meters.

Venues accommodating over 500 people will be required to install a capacity monitoring system and bilingual (Chinese and English) emergency alarm, it said.

Owners of entertainment venues found without these safety measures will face fines of 5,000 to 20,000 yuan (US$625 to 2,500).

Nearly 400 law enforcement officers of the local cultural market have begun to receive related training and a monitoring campaign will be launched soon.

(China.org.cn by Wang Ke, March 22, 2007)