The Chinese flag will be lowered to half-mast around the country and at embassies and consulates abroad Wednesday in a show of respect for those killed in the April 14 earthquake in Qinghai Province, the State Council ordered Tuesday.

Public entertainment would also be suspended Wednesday, the State Council, China's cabinet, said in an announcement.

Following the announcement, the Ministry of Culture issued an urgent circular, ordering administrative departments to strengthen supervision of entertainment venues and to punish those violating the rule.

Besides entertainment venues such as cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars, dance clubs and Internet cafes, website groups should also suspend all online services of music, games, comics, films and TV shows.

A 7.1-magnitude quake struck Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai on April 14. It has left at least 2,064 people dead, 175 missing, and 12,135 injured by Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2010)