The hearing concerning the environmental impact of the technical transformation of a project with an annual output of 160,000 tons of polyester chips in Haikou, Hainan province, invited 19 representatives of general public to attend, in addition to provincial and municipal government officials, scientists, entrepreneurs and representatives of the contractor units.

The project, 2002 fiscal year national treasury bond-sponsored, has not yet attained the state-prescribed standards for the emission of industrial waste gas, noise and sulfur dioxide.

He Shaoqun, a deputy department director of the province's bureau of territorial land, environment and resources, said that this was the first kind of the effort in the province. It will have more hearings of the kind to make room for public participation and democratic decision-making.

People suggest that more qualified scientists and technologists will be invited to appraise the environmental impacts of projects at such open public hearings.

(www.cenews.com.cn April 9, 2003)