A new law, which is to take effect on Nov. 1, bans the fabrication and spreading of false information on accidents and disasters and requires governments to provide accurate and timely information.

The Emergency Response Law approved by the national legislature on Aug. 30 this year is aimed at improving handling of industrial accidents, natural disasters, health and public security hazards.

Chinese officials will be legally obliged to provide accurate and timely information on public emergencies, while media organizations that publish false reports could lose their business licenses under the new law.

The 70-article law would help minimize losses and prevent minor mishaps from turning into major public crises.

"People's governments in charge of coping with an emergency should provide coordinated, accurate and timely information on the emergency and its development," it says.

The law also states that "units and individuals are prohibited from fabricating or spreading false information regarding emergencies and government efforts to cope with emergencies".

Offenders will be warned, it says. Media organizations or web companies could lose their business licenses if their offences lead to serious consequences.

Government officials will incur administrative punishment for providing inaccurate information, says the law.

Behavior that contravenes public security management rules or criminal statutes will be prosecuted, it says.

The law requires "harsh punishments for looting of properties during emergencies and for disrupting emergency response work".

The law says when extremely serious emergencies occur, which severely threaten life and property, state security, public security, environmental security or public order, which are not covered by the provisions in the law, the NPC Standing Committee or the State Council can declare a "state of emergency" in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws.

Frequent natural disasters and industrial accidents have caused huge losses of life and property in China.

Police records show 5.61 million natural and industrial emergencies were reported in 2004, leaving 210,000 people dead and 1.75 million injured. Direct economic losses topped 450 billion yuan (US$56.3 billion).

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2007)