Earlier this month BON News reported on the government's decision to close all county-level and most city-level lobbying offices in Beijing within six months, unless a rigorous vetting process proves that an office is necessary. But provincial offices won't be shut down.

It's the third time in China's history that there's been a ban on local lobbying offices in Beijing. In 1962, though, not one office was shut, despite the government edict. Four years later as the Cultural Revolution began, many lobbying offices were closed due to fears they were spying on Beijing.

They were then reopened in 1978 following the reform and opening up policy. Chinese web portal sohu.com carried out a survey asking respondents what they think of the government's decision to close thousands of lobbying offices in Beijing.