The Chinese authorities have published the country's first regulations on dealing with misuse of police when handling mass activities. These include inappropriate use of police equipment and forceful measures, or carrying or using weapons against relevant rules.

Those held responsible for such deeds would be given administrative punishments such as a demerit, a gross demerit, demotion or even dismissal, according to the rules.

The measures were announced at a press conference on Thursday. It was jointly held by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Ministry of Supervision, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the State Bureau for Letters and Calls (SBLC).

It was the first statute regarding responsibilities on the issue of handling public letters and calls, said Zhang Enxi, SBLC deputy head, while commenting on the issuance of the Provisional Regulations on the Punishment for Breaking Disciplines on Handling Letters and Calls.

Under the rules, decision makers who have seriously infringed people's interests and caused mass incidents by violating laws, regulations and policies will be held responsible. Leading officials may be held responsible for failure to handle public letters and calls timely.

Those who have violated the law will be transferred to judicial departments for investigating their criminal responsibilities, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2008)