BEIJING has asked foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) not to 'entertain' locals by taking them to Huairou, one of the alternative sites of the NGO Forum on Women, saying it was against policy.
The instruction comes amid reports that security in Beijing has been stepped up in the run-up to the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown and the United Nations' World Conference on Women in September.
Sources said some foreign NGOs recently received the instruction which apparently aims to deter them from taking Chinese in their cars to Huairou during the forum.
Huairou, 50 kilometres from Beijing, a village with nothing but a handful of red brick buildings, lies two hours from Beijing along a narrow, winding road that threads through steep valleys.
Public transport to and from Beijing is by coaches which run every hour.
China announced late last month that the site of the Forum on Women, held in parallel with the UN World Conference on Women, would be moved from Beijing's Workers' Stadium to Huairou county.
Observers said the move was designed to isolate and contain the often 'troublesome' NGOs which Beijing fears might exploit the opportunity to stage 'anti-China' or 'anti-communist' activities.