BEIJING (AP) -- China is threatening to revoke Google's business license over the company's decision to redirect Chinese traffic to computers in Hong Kong that are not governed by the communist government's censorship practices.
The latest skirmish between Beijing and the Internet search leader threatens to cripple the company in one of the Web's biggest markets.
Google agreed Tuesday to dismantle the virtual bridge to its Hong site that was created in March, but it was unclear whether that will be enough to stay in business in China. The license is required for the company to continue providing its mapping and music services in China.
Google hopes to keep its license by turning its Chinese website into a so-called "landing page" anchored by a link that users must click on to send visitors to the Hong Kong search service. The company has no plans to revert back to its previous practice of omitting search results that the Chinese government considers subversive or pornographic.
Even if Chinese regulators approve Google's new navigation tool, the added click to reach Hong Kong could still drive away some users.
