Google to redirect Chinese services through Hong Kong
The Internet company Google is following through on a promise to stop censoring search results in China. The widely-used Internet search company says it will redirect its Chinese services through its Hong Kong computer facilities to circumvent China's demand that Google censor the information it provides to Chinese users.
Google said on its official blog Monday it could no longer censor its services or tolerate "persistent blocking" of such Web sites as Facebook and YouTube. It said the Hong Kong arrangement is "entirely legal." Company executives said they realize China could block all access to Google services but hope instead that Beijing respects their decision.
Google announced in January that it was considering shutting down its search engine and other operations in China because of online security issues and the Beijing government's strict censorship rules.
China's official news agency has charged that Google is acting as a tool of the U.S. government, trying to penetrate the culture and values of the Chinese people.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said recently the U.S. government is not getting involved because the dispute is strictly between Google and China.
Google says it will continue research and development in China and will maintain a sales presence there. It said all decisions had been made by executives in the United States and that Chinese employees should not be held responsible for them.
VOA News
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