The final version of regulations making government information public was released yesterday. The new regulations go into effect on May 1, 2008.

They indicate another step in promoting government transparency. The rules will have a major impact on the role of government at all levels and on the relationship between government and citizens.

The regulations sharply define a range of areas in which information must be made public in a timely fashion.

In fact, the regulations define the obligation of government at all levels to keep citizens informed of what they are entitled to know about government work and the rights of citizens to be informed.

Any citizen who believes that a government has failed to publish information that it should make public may lodge a complaint with the appropriate supervisory organizations or higher authorities. Any individual or organization may ask for administrative reconsideration or file a lawsuit against a government department when a right or interest is infringed on by the information published.

These stipulations not only guarantee the right of citizens to be informed, but also their right to protect their interests and rights from being violated by the publication of such information.

The cover-up of information that may affect officials' promotions or indications of corruption used to be a common practice among government officials at various levels.

The hiding of information has built a wall separating the public from the government and has shaken the public's confidence in government.

A lack of transparency about what is behind the policies and government work can be disastrous. The notorious cover-up of the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) by some government officials in 2003 could have led to a public health crisis.

The new rules will hopefully prevent such scandals from happening again, and will help build trust between government at all levels and the public.

(China Daily April 25, 2007)