They’re arresting the street hug thugs.

Reuters via Fark

Chinese appear not to have warmed to a “free hugs” campaign aimed at cheering up strangers by hugging them on the street, with some huggers even being hauled away by police for questioning, media said Monday.

The campaign hit the streets of Beijing, Changsha and Xian this weekend, with participants opening their arms to embrace passers-by and brandishing cards saying “free hugs,” “care from strangers,” “refuse to be apathetic,” the Beijing News said…

“Though some people refused (to be hugged), I hugged 20 people in one minute,” one girl was quoted as saying.

The Free Hugs campaign started in Australia and gained fame with a music video this year.

Well that explains it; any woman who’s ever been in a bar with Aussies knows they can’t keep their hands to themselves. They probably promised those Chinese Hug Thugs free work visas in exchange for promiscuous stranger-fondling.

Go Team Authoritarian Crackdown! They must never reach our fair shores.