文化部前天出台文件，就《营业性演出管理条例实施细则（征求意见稿）》公开征求意见，文件中提到“商业演出中假唱将受处罚”。文件中指出，演员或者演出团体在营业性演出中出现“假唱”、“假演奏”等行为，可能面临国家法规的处罚。细则还规定，参加募捐义演活动的演职人员不得获取演出报酬。

Professional performers who cheat their audiences by lip-synching or pretending to play their instruments at "live" shows are likely to face stiff penalties from next year, an official from the Ministry¹ of Culture said on Wednesday.

Sun Qiuxia, from the market management department, said the ministry will garner² public opinion from now until the end of the month before finalizing³ the details of the new rules.

People who perform for profit should not cheat audiences with fake singing or pretending to play instruments, as has been the case in the past, she said.

Individuals or organizations caught doing so twice or more within a two-year period will have their business licenses⁴ revoked⁵, she said.

The ruling is one of a series of regulations being considered by the ministry on the management of profit-making performances, she said.

The practice of lip-synching has been commonplace in China since the early 1980s and the advent⁶ of "live" TV and gala shows, at which famous singers were regularly invited to perform.

In an interview with the Shanghai-based Noon News yesterday, Chinese pop star Zheng Jun, who came to fame in the late 80s, said that these days, less than 20 percent of stars actually sing at their "live" shows.

"I really don't know what sort of an industry I'm involved in," he said.

"I once met a well-known singer at a gala show who didn't even recognize his song as it was playing, because it had been so long since he'd truly performed it," he said.

The culture ministry's new regulations also state that Chinese performers must not be paid for charity events.

"All earnings⁷, after the deduction⁸ of costs, should go to the charity," it said.

Companies and individuals must report their earnings and expenses from such events to the relevant authorities within 10 days of the performance, it said.

Also under the ministry's new regulations, promoters from Hong Kong and Macao will be allowed to act as sole investors⁹ in entertainment projects staged on the mainland.

Previously¹⁰, such companies were obliged to form partnerships¹¹ with mainland entertainment firms.