Venus AUEB Forum

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Google Inc. on Monday began re-directing Internet traffic away from its Chinese-language site at google.cn to Hong Kong-based google.com.hk, weeks after the company began negotiations with Chinese authorities over operating an uncensored search engine.

Visitors to google.cn were automatically directed to a google.com.hk site, with no explanation.

A Google spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Google announced in January that it had traced a sophisticated cyber-attack to China, and as a result would no longer filter results in its Chinese search engine, google.cn.

Google acknowledged that the move could result in having to withdraw from direct competition in China, where Internet search engines are required to censor politically-sensitive topics.

Since then, Google has sought to engage with Chinese authorities over how it could operate in the country without filtering results. China-based users could theoretically continue to connect to sites such as google.com or google.com.hk following the company's withdrawal from direct competition in China, though their access could become unreliable.

Google has managed to capture a significant share of the Chinese search market, though it still lags well behind national champion Baidu Inc. (BIDU 575.10, +5.45, +0.96%)

Last week, a letter from Google's local advertising resellers in China, which pleaded with the U.S. company for clarity on its intentions, was posted publicly.

Recent media reports have indicated that Google will announce its decision on the Chinese market as soon as Monday. In addition to search, Google provides other online advertising services in China, as well as its Android mobile operating system.

Shares of Google rose slightly to $562.81