An official with the bureau noted that surveys carried out by the government administrations that are not named in the catalogue were not sanctioned by the bureau and had violated government rules.

People have the right to refuse to participate in these unsolicited surveys and should report them to the proper authorities, he added.

The Chinese Government first released the catalogue of official surveys in September 2000, in a bid to put a stop to illegal surveys and improve the quality of official surveys.

According to the bureau, China conducted surveys including those on women's social status, the education for children's healthy growth, and the urban residents' minimum standard of living in the second half of 2000.

The survey on Chinese people's demand for scientific knowledge was completed in January and another survey on their science comprehension level will wrap up in March.

Some of the surveys in the catalogue will not be completed until November 2003.

(Xinhua 02/06/2001)