China issues timetable for gov't info disclosure

The State Council, China's Cabinet, on Wednesday issued a timetable for disclosing government spending on receptions, vehicles and overseas trips, as well as information on investigations into major accidents.

The timetable was included in a State Council document that orders all localities and government departments to put promoting transparency high on their agenda, in a bid to enhance government credibility.

According to the document, provincial governments should disclose their spending on receptions, vehicles and overseas trips starting from 2013, and municipal and county governments should strive to disclose such information by 2015.

In 2011, the central government first published the actual figures of spending on the three items in its final accounts report for 2010. Government spending in these areas has long been the center of public concern over the misuse of public funds.

Also according to the document, investigation reports on major accidents should be fully disclosed to the public starting from 2014.

Moreover, the State Council identified nine categories of information as priorities in promoting government transparency, including information on administrative examinations and approvals; budgeting and government expenses on receptions, vehicles and overseas trips; subsidized housing; food and drug safety; environmental protection; production safety; pricing and charging; land appropriation and demolition; and public welfare institutions and enterprises and, in particular, the education sector.

Specifically, governments should make public the administrative examination process and results. Municipal and county governments should completely disclose information concerning the construction, distribution and revocation of subsidized housing.

Also, governments should inform the public about law enforcement and other work to ensure food and drug safety, as well as disclose information on air and water quality and environmental evaluations of various construction projects.

Governments at all levels are also expected to publicize prices and charges in the education, transportation, healthcare, property and travel sectors, among others.

In regards to land appropriation and demolition information, governments should promote the establishment of a land seizure information inquiry system and make public the appropriation decisions, evaluation and investigation results, and compensation.

In the education sector, information on college enrollment and university financial status should be made more available to the public.