The city government of Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, published a regulation Tuesday offering rewards to those who inform the authorities of illegal publications.
The informants will get amounts ranging from 150,000-300,000 yuan(US$18145.1-US$36290.2) for their tips about publishing and sale of pornographic works and pirating cases, according to the regulation.
The municipal financial bureau has allocated special funds for the purpose, according to local officials.
The informants will be protected, and anyone who take revenge against an informant will be punished in accordance with the law, officials said.
According to Vice Mayor Chen Chuanyu, the city has carried out a well-organized crackdown on illegal publications over the past 12 years. In 1997, the city gave 300,000 yuan apiece to people who told the authorities about underground CD production lines.
In the first 11 months of this year, local authorities have uncovered 14 CD piracy cases and 89 illegal publications, and arrested 251 suspects.
Many of these cases were investigated on tips by local citizens.
(People's Daily December 26, 2001)