Several Chinese internet forums have been cancelled as advertisers and sponsors shied away from an area under tighter government controls.

A “2004 China Internet Cafe Development Forum” had planned a tour of 10 cities beginning in June and ending this month. Some 400 participants showed up for the first meeting in Beijing, but yesterday committee deputy secretary-general Shi Ziwen said there was no timetable for the remaining nine forums to be held.

They don’t have money for the rest of the programme as sponsors “seem to have changed their minds, despite [the fact] that the Beijing leg was a success,” he said.

“Who would be so ready and willing to sponsor the internet cafe nowadays?” asked an expert. “The subject is too controversial.”

More in South China Morning Post, via China Digital News.