Officials to be accountable if negligence stirs trouble

Punishment proper in cases of severe disturbance, crime or accident, govt says

Local Party chiefs and government leaders will be held accountable if their negligence leads to major criminal cases, mass incidents or accidents endangering the public in the provinces or regions they are responsible for, central authorities said on Thursday.

The central government issued the notice, saying officials would face punishment if they were found to have failed in performing their supervisory duties in six types of circumstances.

The situations include where the official's work is weak in ensuring public order and where their failings have contributed to major criminal cases, mass incidents or public safety incidents.

In addition, they will face action if the social security situation in their areas is poor and they have not acted in a timely manner to rectify the problem.

In recent years, mass incidents or public safety accidents have flared up across the country from time to time - including the major chemical explosion at Tianjin port and a serious landslide in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, last year that killed and injured hundreds of people.

Some such incidents have subsequently been found to have been the fault of officials and their lax supervision.

The notice from the central government said the identity of local officials who have failed to assume their responsibilities will be made public, and they will face questioning. They will also be ineligible for promotion during the six months following such incidents.

In addition, they will face possible punishment and may be required to resign or be dismissed.

Those found to have broken laws will be subject to criminal charges.

"The notice has changed the major strategic policy issued by the central government into detailed arrangements clearly defining officials' tasks, responsibilities and possible punishments," said Peng Bo, a senior official from the Central Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee.

Peng said China's overall security situation is good, and the number of violent crimes, abnormal deaths or mass incidents had declined sharply - a fall of 12.5 percent from last year.

"But public safety issues are full of complexity and pose the threat of danger. We are facing a tough task to maintain public safety."

Authorities, including the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee and the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said they will strictly follow the notice and work diligently to implement it.

"The introduction of the notice will enable Party and government leaders to clearly understand their responsibilities and attach great importance to both economic development and public security work," said Xie Chuntao, a professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC.