Foreign governments, non-profits press China to revise draft NGO law

BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Western governments and foreign non-profit groups are pressuring China to revise a proposed law they say would severely restrict the activities of non-government organisations, business groups and universities, according to people familiar with the matter.

The draft law "governing foreign NGOs", which has triggered a storm of criticism since it was made open for public consultation last month, requires foreign non-profits to find an official sponsor, typically a government-backed agency, and gives broad latitude to the police to regulate activities and funding.