Dog-lovers and animal rights activists have called for an annual dog meat festival in Yulin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, to be called off.

Ethical and food safety concerns are being voiced over the event, with about 10,000 dogs due to be slaughtered on Friday.

But a spokesman for the Yulin city government, who asked not to be identified, said the event is organized by local residents and the government has no right to stop it.