Forrester Research, a US technology research and advisory firm, is closing its office in mainland China and laying off most of its analysts in the country amid an intensifying government crackdown on multinational consultancies.

The Boston-based company has already begun letting staff go in the country, with only a few employees being retained to wrap up ongoing projects, according to a person with knowledge on the matter, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of issue. The lay-offs came as a surprise, the source said.

In response to an enquiry by the Post, Forrester said on Wednesday it was shutting its China office as part of a previously announced global restructuring.