China is to support the chain business of audiovisual products, said an official. Chain business includes direct chain business and special-permitted chain business. The companies applying for direct chain business license should have independent legal qualifications, capability to do long-term distribution, perfect management rules and good business achievements, with at least 5 million yuan (US$600,000) of capital registration. If the chain stores extend to another provinces or cities, the company should have registered capital of at least 30 million yuan.

The companies applying for special-permitted chain business should sign a certain contract first.

The chain stores should comply the national law, and the headquarters should take the responsibilities for their outlets, said an official with the Ministry of Culture. The chain outlets receiving more than two administration punishments should be closed, and the headquarters should be disqualified if one-third of their outlets make poor performance in management, said he.

(Eastday.com 04/04/2001)