A new regulation released by China's State Council on the publication of government information took effect at the beginning of this month. It requires all administrations to actively publicize information on their working procedures and other matters of public concern.

The release of the new rule coincided with the widespread EV71 intestinal virus infection in Fuyang city, Anhui Province, where the pubic have been eager to learn the real situation.

A commentary in The Workers' Daily has expressed a cautious welcome to the move. It says while the public appreciates their right to know being protected, the effect of the regulation may take some time to emerge.

The author notes that similar rules have been adopted before, but most of them failed to achieve the desired result as the authorities tended to either selectively publicize information or completely ignore the rules. The cover-up of work-related accidents is such an example.

The author suggests China should first raise public awareness of the importance of supervision over government affairs, which will then propel the authorities to release information that they should not withhold.

On a positive note, The Workers' Daily commentary notes that the Ministry of Education, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Beijing Municipal Government have worked out measures to echo the State Council regulation, a signal that information publication is being implemented in a steady manner.