In an unusual Chinese campaign against canine-based cuisine, Beijing has called on local hotels and restaurants to stop serving dog meat during the Olympic Games next month.

The move is part of a broad drive by the Chinese capital to present its best possible face during the games. It reflects concerns among senior officials that the sight of roast or stewed dog might offend visitors from western nations.

In a low-profile order issued recently in the name of the municipal food safety office, the capital's catering industry association was told to “advocate” to its members that they “suspend use of dog meat dishes during the Olympic period”.

Hotels and restaurants playing a direct role in preparations for the games were targeted for special attention by other government departments, as were those in “key control areas” such as those along the routes to be used by the Olympic flame relay.

The campaign recalls efforts by South Korea – where dog meat is highly popular – to ban its consumption during the 1988 Seoul Olympics after fierce criticism from western animal rights groups.

Though little used in local Beijing dishes, dog meat has long been available in the capital at Korean restaurants and those offering the cuisines of southern Chinese provinces. Though the government has not specified any punishments for defiant dog-servers, the Olympic instruction is having some effect.

Maoxianglou, a restaurant serving food from south-western Guizhou province, said yesterday it had been ordered not to sell its signature “Huajiang Dog”, a dish reputedly good for people suffering from high blood pressure.

“We are not allowed to sell it during the Olympic period – and it's not clear what will happen afterwards,” said a restaurant employee.

As in other Asian nations, dog consumption is facing increasing opposition within China, where the custom of keeping canine pets has become popular among newly wealthy urbanites.

北京市發起一場罕見的抵制狗肉菜肴的運動，號召本地酒店及餐館在下個月舉行的奧運會期間停止供應狗肉。

為了在奧運期間展現其最好的一面，北京市開展了大范圍行動，而此舉即是其中一項。它表明，高級官員們擔心烤制或烹煮狗肉的場景可能會冒犯西方國家游客。

有關方面最近以北京市食品安全辦公室(food safety office)的名義低調發布了一條規定，要求北京飲食行業協會向其會員單位“發出倡議”，“在奧運期間暫停經營狗肉菜品”。

其它政府部門會特別留意那些直接參與奧運籌備工作的酒店和餐館，以及那些處于“關鍵控制地區”的酒店和餐館，譬如在奧運火炬傳遞沿線。

這項運動令人想起了狗肉極其盛行的韓國在受到西方動物權益組織猛烈批評后，在1988年漢城奧運會期間禁食狗肉。

雖然狗肉在北京本地菜品中很少見，但在京城的韓餐館和提供中國南方菜肴的餐館中一向可尋。盡管政府并未明確表示對違抗規定供應狗肉的餐館將有何種懲罰，但這份奧運指示仍有一定作用。

一家經營貴州菜的餐館昨天表示，已收到指示，不許銷售其招牌菜“花江狗肉”。這道菜被認為對高血壓患者非常有益。

一位餐館雇員說：“我們不許在奧運期間賣這道菜，之后會怎樣還不清楚。”

在中國，飼養犬類寵物在新富都市人群中已變得很流行。同其它亞洲國家一樣，在這里，烹食狗肉正面臨著越來越強烈的反對聲音。