The State Council, China's cabinet, on Tuesday issued what some commentators are calling a milestone regulation to boost official transparency by ordering government departments to be more open in reporting information.

The decree, signed by Premier Wen Jiabao, is likely to become the country's most specific and progressive set of rules encouraging the release of government information, when it takes effect on May 1, 2008.

The new regulation, is seen by the government as a move to improve efficiency and prevent abuses of power. "It will also safeguard the public's right to know, the right to participate and the right to supervise," said Zhang Qiong, deputy director of the Legislative Office of the State Council.

"The regulation will help curb corruption at its source, largely reducing its occurrence," Zhang said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Governments at all levels will be required to compile information directories, that will include the name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses of departments and people who are responsible for releasing official information.

Government departments will be checked regularly to see whether they are withholding information and the public is encouraged to report information blackouts, the decree says.

"In case the government fails to carry out its obligations defined by this decree, officials responsible should be punished if the violations are serious," it says. It did not stipulate specific penalties but noted that serious offenders could be prosecuted.

The rules also give the citizens the right to seek information that has been not included in official announcements through a written inquiry.

Upon receiving the inquiry, the administrative staff should respond immediately or within 30 days at the latest.

The regulation also reminds governments to steer clear of releasing "state secrets, confidential commercial information and infringing on an individual's privacy".

When in doubt, officials should consult the country's laws to determine whether or not it is inappropriate to make certain information public, the regulation says. If they cannot decide, they should first report to higher authorities," it says.

Confidential business information and private information of individuals contained in government databases should not be released without the consent of the person. Administrative staff can only make public confidential information when they believe not releasing it would seriously harm the public interest.

Zhang Qiong said information regarding major economic crimes, business fraud and sex offences are examples of cases where the public interest out weights the protection of individual privacy.

Individuals who believe their interests have been harmed by the release of confidential information can sue for compensation, the rules say.

Government transparency must strike a balance between keeping state secrets, making government affairs public and safeguarding the public's right to know, said Qin Hai, head of the task force charged with promoting government transparency.

Wang Yukai, a professor with China National School of Administration, says the regulation will ensure both the public and the government share the same information and effectively prevent under table operations of government affairs."

However, some scholars think the new regulation doesn't go far enough.

Wang Xisheng, a professor with China's elite Peking University, said that the government's current practice of releasing information fails to meet the demands of the people.

He also worries that some government officials might reserve and control information rather than make in public.

State secrets are defined by the Law on Guarding State Secrets include classified information concerning major policy decisions on state affairs, national defence and the activities of the armed forces, diplomatic activities, national economic and social development, and science and technology, state security activities and the investigation of criminal offences, and other matters that are classified as state secrets by the state secret protection department. Currently, more than 80 percent of county-level governments have set up websites, according to a leading group under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in promoting government transparency.

China central government launched its website in 2006. It provides information on government affairs, on-line services and interactive communication between governments and citizens.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2007)