Had no problems with hotmail or yahoo last year. I think google.cn was blocked but just opened google.ie and no problems. If in a internet cafe, you usually present your passport before you get a password - so I would not advocate viewing anything 'politically provocative' as I assume they monitor what sites you visit.
Never having frequented an internet cafe before, is it usual that you have to present your passport - do they hold on to it while you surf or just require sight of it before you can log on.
They usually took a photocopy of the passport. I have not seen this practice in other countries.
The keyboards are usual QWERTY layout though some of the symbol keys can be in a different location than with the std UK/IE layout.