China will continue cracking down on illegal surveying and mapping and investigate and punish leaks of state secrets, said an official from the State Bureau of Survey and Mapping on Thursday.

Seven government departments including State Bureau of Survey and Mapping, Ministry of Information Industry and National Administration for Protection of State Secrets have pledged to strengthen control of the geographical information market, said the official.

He said a total of 759 cases of illegal surveying and mapping were found in 2006, and many of the cases involved foreign organizations and individuals.

"The illegal activities have not been stopped and more cases have been found this year," he said.

"Some top geographical information is significant to national security. If the information is disclosed, national security will be endangered," said the official.

Last year, two Japanese scholars were fined a total of 80,000 yuan (US$10,250) and deported for mapping the coordinates of an airport and water facilities in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It was feared their results could be used militarily.

A new regulation restricting surveying and mapping by foreigners came into effect on March 1.

Foreign organizations and individuals who intend to engage in surveying and mapping must obtain approval from the central government and be supervised by local governments, according to the regulation.

The Chinese law on surveying and mapping states that foreigners must cooperate with a Chinese partner and the activities must not involve state secrets or jeopardize national security.

The results of the surveying and mapping are owned by China, and must not be taken and transmitted abroad without proper permission, according to the regulation.

According to the State Bureau of Survey and Mapping, foreigners who illegally survey, gather and publish geographical information on China will be severely punished.

Chinese partners and translators will be fined if they fail to stop illegal mapping activities.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2007)