On Monday, the General Office of the State Council
said government officials and managers of state-owned enterprises
had until September 22 to give up any illegal shares they hold in
coal mines, in an attempt to improve mine safety.
In some places, collusion between government
officials and colliery owners worsens work safety problems and
increases difficulties for work safety departments in addressing
them, said State Administration for Work Safety (SAWS) spokesperson
Huang Yi.
"Such an announcement will no doubt give a clear
warning to those officials who collude with mine owners," said Wu
Zongzhi, vice-director of the National Centre of Safety Science and
Technology.
"But it would have little effect on those who
stealthily collaborate with them," said Wu. "For example, many
government officials profit from coal mining using their
influence."
Monday's statement also said that all illegal
collieries and those that fail to meet safety standards by the end
of the year will be closed for good, after having had one chance to
remedy conditions.
SAWS head Li Yizhong said all levels of government
must carry out central government orders and officials who have
abused their position will be punished accordingly, and Huang added
that they are drafting concrete measures to implement the
commitment.
According to the SAWS, 1,436 miners were killed in
39 major accidents by August 21 this year.
More than 60 percent of the tragedies occurred in
coal mines that had been ordered to stop production for work safety
improvements, indicating that corruption on the part of local
officials was partly responsible, said Huang.
Huang also said the State Council will soon draft
new regulations on the prevention of coal mine accidents.
(China Daily August 25, 2005)