Thursday was the deadline by which all government officials who have invested in coal mines were required to withdraw their money, according to a State Council order issued last month, but experts have criticized the likely effectiveness of the policy in improving work safety.

Li Yizhong, head of State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), said in an interview on Wednesday that collusion between owners and officials as well as under-the-table transactions can be blamed for many coal mine accidents.

According to An Yuanjie, another SAWS official, "The actual number of officials who have interests in mines is unavailable. Discipline inspection departments at provincial level are collecting data."

By the time the final report is due to be released in mid October, An said, officials who refuse to withdraw their investment from collieries will risk severe punishment.

Industry insiders said a large number of officials are hanging on to their stakes. In southwest China's Guizhou Province, some declared their investments to the government, according to the provincial work safety bureau, but no figures were given.

No officials in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, one of the major coal-producing areas of China, have declared interests in mines, Beijing-based China Youth Daily reported yesterday. The newspaper quoted an unnamed official as saying, "I would prefer to quit my official position to withdrawing my shares."

In the past years, authorities have tried various measures to improve mine safety but experts said they have largely been ineffective.

Zhu Deren, vice-chairman of the China Association of Coal Industry, said the latest move seems to be no different, considering its implementation difficulties. He told China Daily that China has safety rules and other regulations, but the problem is lack of enforcement.

The work safety administration has ordered more than 7,000 mines, mostly small-scale, to halve production until safety approvals are given; local governments trying to circumvent the order will be disciplined.

(China Daily September 23, 2005)