No skimpy outfits on bar staff

An instructor teaches waitresses working for a newly-opened karaoke bar at the stadium square in Yiwu, Zhejiang province March 6, 2008.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's government has told discos, karaoke bars and other entertainment venues to install windows in private rooms and ensure staff dress modestly from Oct 1 as part of an effort to crack down on prostitution and drugs.

According to rules released on the Ministry of Public Security's website (www.mps.gov.cn), entertainment venues must install transparent partitions between rooms that ensure "the whole environment of the consumer's entertainment area in the room can be seen."

"When open for business, the transparent part of rooms and windows to rooms at singing and dancing entertainment venues must not be obstructed," the rules say.

Discos, karaoke nightclubs and other bars in China frequently have private rooms for hire, and are a favorite places for businessmen to entertain guests, sometimes with prostitutes, which is illegal in China.

Staff clothing is also covered in the new rules. "Staff members should dress tastefully, and not be too exposing."

Other rules demand closed circuit television cameras be installed and security guards placed at discos.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard, editing by Miral Fahmy)