BEIJING, CHINA - CHINA'S capital city and Olympic host Beijing is not taking new measures to restrict business visas ahead of the Games, state media said on Monday, even though financial hub Shanghai is.

Business groups have already complained about tightened visa policies ahead of the August Games, which have included a ban on citizens of 33 countries applying for Chinese visas in Hong Kong.

The Shanghai Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission said it would postpone approval of notification letters needed for business visas until mid-September for all but essential travel, ruling out visits for market research, training or to carry out inspections.

The curbs were being introduced on orders from above and were meant to 'ensure the smooth hosting of the Olympics and safeguard the city's social stability during the Olympics', the city commission said in a notice posted on its website.

But Beijing has no such curbs, Xinhua quoted Zhao Hui, an official with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce, as saying. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post had said Beijing had introduced controls similar to Shanghai's.

'Some foreign media reported that we had stopped issuing official invitation letters, known as notification letters, needed for business visas, but the fact is we never did so,' Mr Zhao said.

'We handled about 150 applications every day this month, up 52 percent as against the same period of last year,' he added.

Still, the government has been restricting visas across the board as it seeks to ensure security over the Olympic period, sa ying the measures are normal ahead of such a big event.

Business consultants say the restrictions are starting to hurt exporters, which in some cases are unable to finalise contracts because their clients' inspectors are unable to get into the country.