BEIJING - A total of 40 Chinese websites were closed amid China's campaign to clean up illegal online practices, such as blackmail and deleting posts for profit.

Most of the violators were reported by the public, said a statement by the Cyberspace Administration of China on Tuesday.

The authority also published a list of websites closed for the third time since the campaign was launched in January.

The statement also encouraged the public to report on violations and promised an appropriate response, personal privacy protection and financial rewards.