Earlier this year Google made the announcement that it is reviewing its business operations in China and considering possible closure due to China’s cyberattacks and limits on free speech. Google today stopped censoring its search services (Google Search, Google News, and Google Images) on its chinese website, Google.cn and users visiting Google.cn are now being redirected to Hong Kong’s site, Google.com.hk. David Drummond, Googles Chief Legal Officer writes:

“Figuring out how to make good on our promise to stop censoring search on Google.cn has been hard. We want as many people in the world as possible to have access to our services, including users in mainland China, yet the Chinese government has been crystal clear throughout our discussions that self-censorship is a non-negotiable legal requirement. We believe this new approach of providing uncensored search in simplified Chinese from Google.com.hk is a sensible solution to the challenges we’ve faced—it’s entirely legal and will meaningfully increase access to information for people in China. We very much hope that the Chinese government respects our decision, though we are well aware that it could at any time block access to our services.”

Also since it is highly likely that the Chinese government will block access to Google’s uncensored services, the company has launched a specific site which updates regularly each day and keeps users informed of which Google services are available in China.

Updates:  UPDATED Mar 25, 2010 4:08 PM PDT
Reactions from China on Google Rebecca MacKinnon, Mar.25.2010
Google deals in doubt amid spat with Beijing AP via Washington Post, Mar.24.2010
Google co-founder Sergey Brin urges US to act over China web censorship The Guardian, Mar.23.2010
Google Faces Fallout as China Reacts to Site Shift New York Times, Mar.23.2010
In Brief: Google’s China Move Andrew Lih, Mar.22.2010
China said on Tuesday that Google Inc had violated a "written promise" Reuters, Mar.22.2010
Google's China Decision Ignores Conventional Wisdom PCWorld, Mar.22.2010
White House 'disappointed' no Google, China deal AFP, Mar.22.2010