Model planes have been banned in Beijing during the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference sessions this month.

The ban, which took effect Monday, will bring a considerable economic loss to George Qiao, manager of the Beijing Heaven Bird Aeromodeling Shop.

"Of course the ban will inflict a big loss - probably about 15,000 yuan - for us and we have been forced to close for about half a month," said Qiao. "And the government has not provided any compensation in any form. We have nothing to do other than sit and wait."