Chinese authorities have decided that Jackie Chan's new comedy, Rush Hour 3, is "fundamentally anti-Chinese" and it may not be released there, reports say. They are unhappy at a scene where a family involved in organised crime visit Paris, according to Variety Asia, which quotes sources close to the film.

And this association with Triad gang members has angered senior officials, the publication has claimed. But censors at China's Film Bureau stressed the movie had not been banned.

Strict rules

The bureau has the power to request further editing of films which it considers to contain offensive scenes.  However, Variety claimed it would not extend this invitation to the makers of Rush Hour 3.

Only 20 foreign releases are allowed each year under strict rules governing cinema in China.  And one of them - adventure drama Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - was cut before it was screened in China last month.  The disputed scenes involved Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat, who played a pirate.

Chinese news agency Xinhua said the portrayal of his character as bald and scarred was an insult to the country's population.