The national transportation sectors are making sound preparations for the upcoming week-long International Labor Day holiday, said the Ministry of Communications in Beijing on Thursday.

Adequate quantities of buses have been prepared across the country to meet the needs of tourists, especially in large cities, tourist cities and scenic spots, said the ministry, adding that short trips will be more common during the holiday.

According to the ministry, to ensure a safe holiday, all vehicles will be checked for safe driving and sanitation, and those which do not qualify will not be permitted to operate.

To address the question of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in some areas of China, the ministry has set up a monitoring team headed by Minister Zhang Chunxian, and a series of notices on SARS prevention have been issued to all local branches. An emergency response system for the Labor Day holiday has also been set up in the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2003)