INSTANT INFORMATION

Yu Chuan, a professor with Renmin University, said the government had made timely information releases since the quake, reflecting the maturing of its governing capacity.

Within 20 minutes after the quake struck, the CSB announced the quake's location and magnitude to the public, and about two hours later, the Chongqing Municipality, which neighbors Sichuan, reported the first four deaths. Information on quake casualties and relief work has been rolling out ever since, with the latest death toll exceeding 14,866 under official tallies.

National disaster relief organizations and the local governments of Sichuan, Chongqing, Gansu and other affected provinces have been updating the post-quake situation through various channels, including official websites. People from the world over have no difficulty in accessing any known information concerning the quake.

The timely release of information helped the government win public trust and calm a shocked nation, Yu said. On Monday afternoon, the CSB ruled out the possibility of aftershocks or new quakes in Beijing, Chongqing, Zhejiang and other provinces, dismissing rumors that might have caused public panic.

"An earthquake is a catastrophe that concerns the life and property of millions, and the more information released on it, the better," said Mo Jihong, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"The quake was too massive [for us to cope with it alone]. Through the timely and full release of information, the outside world will know what happened here and give us badly needed help," said He Biao, director of the emergency response office of Aba Prefecture, of which Wenchuan, the epicenter, forms a part.

The quick disclosure also demonstrated that a new regulation on the release of government information was fulfilling its role, Mo said.

The regulation took effect just a couple of weeks ago. The 22-article regulation was designed to "improve transparency and protect the right to know and public scrutiny of official acts," according to Zhang Qiong, deputy director of the Legal Affairs Office of the State Council.

TANGSHAN QUAKE COMPARED

"The vigorous flow of information and the fast response from top officials and rescue workers stood in stark contrast to the way China handled the Tangshan earthquake," The New York Times said on May 13.

In 1976, a quake also measuring 7.8 razed Tangshan, in the northern province of Hebei, killing 242,769 and leaving 164,851 critically injured.

The death toll, however, was kept secret for three years and was not revealed until 1979 by a Xinhua reporter Xu Xuejiang.

"Society is progressing," Xu said. "The government has now established 'openness', 'transparency' and 'people first' as its new principles of governance."

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)