The regulation on the protection and administration of the famous Great Wall, being scrutinized by the State Council, or China's cabinet, is likely to be promulgated later this year, a government advisor said Thursday.

"We have drafted the regulation and submitted it to the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council for approval," said Shan Jixiang, a member of the National Committee of China's top advisory body and director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Thursday.

"We've listed the implementation of the regulation in the work plan of our administration this year," said Shan, who advocated for legalizing protection of the Great Wall during the annual sessions of the top advisory body in the past two years.

According to him, the main points of the regulation covers the scope of protection, control of construction projects adjacent to the Great Wall, and penalties for those who bring damages to the Wall.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2005)