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.

北京市发起一场罕见的抵制狗肉菜肴的运动，号召本地酒店及餐馆在下个月举行的奥运会期间停止供应狗肉。

为了在奥运期间展现其最好的一面，北京市开展了大范围行动，而此举即是其中一项。它表明，高级官员们担心烤制或烹煮狗肉的场景可能会冒犯西方国家游客。

有关方面最近以北京市食品安全办公室(food safety office)的名义低调发布了一条规定，要求北京饮食行业协会向其会员单位“发出倡议”，“在奥运期间暂停经营狗肉菜品”。

其它政府部门会特别留意那些直接参与奥运筹备工作的酒店和餐馆，以及那些处于“关键控制地区”的酒店和餐馆，譬如在奥运火炬传递沿线。

这项运动令人想起了狗肉极其盛行的韩国在受到西方动物权益组织猛烈批评后，在1988年汉城奥运会期间禁食狗肉。

虽然狗肉在北京本地菜品中很少见，但在京城的韩餐馆和提供中国南方菜肴的餐馆中一向可寻。尽管政府并未明确表示对违抗规定供应狗肉的餐馆将有何种惩罚，但这份奥运指示仍有一定作用。

一家经营贵州菜的餐馆昨天表示，已收到指示，不许销售其招牌菜“花江狗肉”。这道菜被认为对高血压患者非常有益。

一位餐馆雇员说：“我们不许在奥运期间卖这道菜，之后会怎样还不清楚。”

在中国，饲养犬类宠物在新富都市人群中已变得很流行。同其它亚洲国家一样，在这里，烹食狗肉正面临着越来越强烈的反对声音。