It is of great importance to issue the new regulations on public health emergencies when the country is making every effort to fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), said Wen at a State Council meeting for the enforcement of the regulations.

The new regulations signal that China is improving its legal system to deal with public health emergencies, he added.

According to the new rules, governments of all levels will set up a headquarters to handle emergencies, Wen said, and the public health administrations will set up an information network from provincial to village level to collect and update information on the situation.

No individual and no administration will be allowed to tamper with or delay the reporting of information, he added.

China will set up disease control and prevention centers at all levels and improve the hospitals' capacity to deal with emergencies, Wen said.

Specialized hospitals must be founded or hospitals capable of treating epidemics must be designated in all provinces and prefectures to handle emergencies of epidemics, he added.

The governments of provincial level must set up fast-acting medical teams for emergency response, he said.

Wen urged governments of all levels to publicize the new regulations, cope with SARS in line with the regulations and punish those violating the rules in accordance with laws.

The people's congresses at all levels will make every effort to help the government carry out the new regulations, said Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), at the meeting.

The committees of the Chinese Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of all levels will take an active part in helping implement the regulations, said Wang Zhongyu, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2003)