Chinese hotels fined for violating counterterrorism law

NANNING -- Police in China's southern city of Nanning fined two hotels 100,000 yuan ($15,000) each for not registering guests' identifications, citing China's Counterterrorism Law.

Police in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, told Xinhua that it was the first time that they had used the law to punish any hotels.

Article 21 of China's Counterterrorism Law stipulates that telecommunications, Internet, finance, accommodation, long-distance passenger transport, motor vehicle leasers, and other business service providers must register client identities. They must not provide services to any client whose identity is not clear or those who refuse identity checks.

The two hotels were caught using random checks, which showed they were not registering guests' identifications, Nanning police said.