Risqué car plates prompt China ban

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- China's popular and widely publicized sale of personalized car number plates has been suspended after just 10 days.

The government has given no reason for the suspension, the South China Morning Post reported on Friday, but it is believed risqué, offensive or trademark-bearing plates may have prompted the ban.

About 7,000 car owners in Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou and Shenzen bought the plates, the report said, with drivers signing up for any three letter-three number sequence not already claimed for the usual 100 yuan ($12) licensing fee.

CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

Topping the list of popular plates were surnames, birthdays, or references to lifestyles and personal achievements, the state-run Beijing Morning Post reported.

Also proving popular were combinations with Chinese lucky numbers six and eight.

But it was the more risqué plates that made headlines since the August 12 launch.

Cars carrying SEX-001, USA-911, UFO-001, 001-CEO and HKG-097 were turning heads as were vehicles with names of official businesses or agencies such as the CIA and FBI on their plates, the South China Morning Post reported.

Though it was unlikely the U.S. government had publicly complained about the plates with American references, the Post reported that it was possible that some license plates were putting Beijing at risk.

"You're using someone's name without permission, and the government, by issuing the plate, is condoning it," the Post quoted American lawyer Alexander May as saying.

The suspension of the plates has shocked vehicle owners and the four cities that had been issuing the registrations have reverted back to the randomly generated five-character plates.

But car owners who already have been issued the plates can keep what looks set to become a collector's item.