The act of releasing the names of the 4,964 enterprises involved was a response to moves in some regions to allow polluting companies to restart production despite ecological sins in order to meet market demand for products.

Commission officials hoped the announcement of all the businesses closed or to be closed since 1999 would arouse the attention of local governments and force them to intensify administration of such enterprises.

The enterprises include oil refineries, cement plants, glass plants, thermal power plants and steel mills that have been found to waste resources and pollute the air or water.

These operations use outmoded technology that results in inferior products and poor records on worker safety, too.

The shuttering of such businesses began in 1999 as part of China's ongoing industrial restructuring and growth.

Li Rongrong, director of the State Economic and Trade Commission, said the actions have achieved initial success.

Yet there is still high demand for some of these products, a contradiction that has yet to be resolved, Li said.

Li called for fostering a better environment for the operation of small- and medium-sized businesses.

Li's commission also announced the names of enterprises whose products do not meet national standards.

According to a random examination of 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, 26 are producing sub-standard commodities.

(People's Daily 08/14/2001)