The State Council, on Tuesday granted the release of a set of
milestone regulations to boost official transparency, ordering
government departments to be more open in giving out
information.
Premier Wen Jiabao has signed a decree of the State Council to
promulgate the regulations, which are likely to become China's most
specific and progressive rules encouraging the publicity of
government information when they take effect on May 1, 2008.
Governments at various levels will be required to give out
information that involves the immediate interests of individuals
and groups, and that which explains administrative institutions and
procedures, the regulations say.
Listed as priorities by the State Council are details on how
government departments plan to deal with emergencies, government
expenses, specific charges for administrative and public services,
and results of investigations into environmental protection, public
health, and food and drugs safety.
Local governments will also be required to publicize data on
land acquisitions, residence relocations, and related
compensation.
Township authorities will have to give out information on land
use, financial accounting, the operation of rural collective
enterprises, and the family situations of local residents in order
to ensure the fair enforcement of the family planning policy.
The regulations also contain a clause saying official
information releases "should not harm state security, public
safety, normal economic operation, and social stability.”
Governments at various levels are required to compile
information directories, which should include the name, address,
telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of departments that
have a responsibility to release official information.
Government departments will be checked regularly to see whether
they withhold information and the public is encouraged to report
information blackouts, according to the regulations.
In case the government fails to carry out its obligations
defined by the regulations, officials responsible will be punished
if the violations are serious, the regulations say.
The rules also give the public the right to seek information
from the government through a written inquiry.
Upon receiving the inquiry, the administrative staff should
respond immediately if possible, the regulations say. If the
inquiry can't be replied to immediately, it should be responded to
within 15 working days, or 30 working days at most.
In the meantime, the regulations remind government departments
to steer clear of "state secrets, confidential commercial
information and infringement on an individual's privacy.”
Officials should consult the country's laws to determine whether
or not it is appropriate to make certain information public, the
regulations say. If they cannot decide, they should report to
higher authorities.
Experts say this is remarkable progress for China, a country
where death tolls from even natural calamities were considered a
taboo.
On July 28, 1976, the country witnessed the devastating Tangshan
earthquake in north China's Hebei Province, but the report of a
death toll of 240,000 people was released three years later.
The central authority later realized the importance of timely
official information release in 2003 when the Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic was spreading rapidly.
(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2007)