Green groups demand an apology over spill 'secrecy'

BEIJING - Eleven environmental organizations have sent an open letter to ConocoPhillips China and the China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) Ltd calling for a "full apology for the concealment of recent oil leaks and their failure to immediately disclose the specifics of the incidents".

The letter that was sent on Monday was jointly written by Green Beagle, Friends of Nature, the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, Nanjing Green Stone, Green Han River, Red Phoenix Project, Green Watershed, Shanghai Healthy Consumers Purchasing League, Friends of Green in Tianjin, Green Anhui and the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs.

The letter claims the CNOOC concealed oil spills that blighted Bohai Bay and says the organization violated the requirement of a listed company to disclose information and the basic principles of corporate social responsibility.