Beijing city authorities yesterday hailed a fire department plan to release information on fires and disasters as quickly as possible.

The capital’s goal is to ensure that each district, county or department circulates information quickly.

Sun Wenzhong, deputy director of the city’s fire department, announced on Sunday that his department will appoint a spokesperson for every fire. He or she will be on site to provide details on rescue efforts, casualties and other information.

According to Sun, the spokesperson system is created in response to the public’s right to know about fires and to increase their safety consciousness.

The system also protects journalists’ rights to cover news at the scene.

At present, there are rarely spokespeople available at accident sites and information is virtually always delayed.

The latest example was the Da’anshan Coal Mine disaster, where ten workers were killed. During the four days of rescue and recovery operations, no one was designated to provide information. Journalists were not allowed near the site on the grounds that they might hamper rescue efforts.

Another case in point is the recent fire at the 700-year-old Huguo Temple in Beijing’s Xicheng District. Nearly 10 days have passed since the blaze that destroyed part of the temple, but no government official or department has claimed responsibility.

Many believe the spokesperson system will improve the situation.

Depending on the seriousness of the fire, the spokesperson can be an official at the scene, a person from the fire department or other personnel designated by the authorities, said Sun.

He pointed out that the spokesperson will be prohibited from revealing state secrets and journalists will not be allowed to hinder the firefighters.

According to an official with the city’s news office, the municipal government has been prompting its 28 districts and counties as well as various departments to designate spokespeople.

“They often cannot be contacted by media when they are really needed,” said the official. Some officials are afraid of being blamed, he said, and some are afraid of saying the wrong thing.

The official said the movement towards transparency and quick reactions is evolving.

“Three years ago, information on an accident or unexpected event would not be officially announced until it had been thoroughly investigated,” he said. “But now, some basic facts, such as the casualties, the number of the injured and missing will be declared as soon as possible.”

(China Daily June 29, 2004)