A total of 4,855 gas stations were shut down in 2002 after China launched a tough campaign to rectify the gas station market, according to the State Economic and Trade Commission.
In a joint effort beginning last March, the economic and trade commissions, the construction departments and the industrial and commercial departments at various levels made a thorough inspection on the business qualifications, fire-proofing measures and service quality of all gas stations.
The major breaches of those closed down included the unauthorized use of land, lack of security measures, selling low-quality fuel, giving short weight and tax fraudulence.
The number of gas stations totaled more than 20,000 in 2001.
(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2003)
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