Disasters prompt review of emergency response measures

BEIJING - Local Chinese officials must get news of unrest and other "emergencies" straight into the hands of central leaders to comply with new national emergency response measures, issued at the weekend.

The plan divides natural disasters, public health and environmental crises and threats to social stability into four colour-coded categories and sets different broad responses from local and central authorities to each.

Local authorities must inform the State Council, China's cabinet, of "important social security incidents" within four hours, state the rules posted on the central Government's website.

"The guidelines come at a time when a string of serious cases, including contamination of drinking water, bird flu outbreaks and mine accidents, have stricken China over the past few months," the China Daily said.

But Beijing is also grappling with an acknowledged rise in rural unrest.

- REUTERS