Authorities take action to deal with epidemic

Several ministry-level departments, including those responsible for railway ticket sales, agriculture and rural affairs, and public security, have responded recently to issues of public concern.

Passengers need to provide phone numbers

Railway authorities are now requiring train passengers to provide their cellphone numbers when buying tickets online, with the move implemented since Saturday.

A notice released by China Railway's 12306 online ticket-booking platform on Jan 31 said the move was aimed at ensuring passengers can be contacted without delay when needed in light of the ongoing pneumonia outbreak caused by a novel coronavirus.

For passengers needing special attention, such as juveniles and the elderly, and those without a cellphone number, the number of a guardian or family member must be provided, it said.

Passengers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan or foreign travelers can provide an email address instead.

The railway authorities will protect passengers' information in accordance with the law, the notice said, while adding that the authenticity of the cellphone numbers provided will be checked when necessary.

Cellphone numbers that fail to pass verification will result in the booking being rejected, it said.

Vegetable supplies, stable prices a priority

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has told agricultural authorities at all levels of government around the country to ensure the sufficient supply and stable prices of winter and spring vegetables to meet people's needs as the nation fights to control the novel coronavirus outbreak.

In a notice released on Jan 29, the ministry said local governments should get a clear picture of their local demand for vegetables, their ability to transfer vegetables to other areas, and whether they needed to purchase vegetables from outside.

The main vegetable-consuming areas and those severely stricken by the epidemic should include the supply of vegetables in their contingency plans for epidemic prevention, it said.

The ministry stressed the importance of strengthened quality supervision and ensuring the safety of vegetables, adding that urgent market need was no excuse for neglecting quality management.

It also required efforts to strengthen communication and coordination between main vegetable producing areas and priority cities and regions to organize supplies in a timely manner, coordinate allocation and guarantee supply.

Crackdown on unapproved road blocks

People who set up check posts without approval or break up roads to stop traffic－along with other acts designed to disrupt the flow of vehicles amid the ongoing epidemic－will face prosecution, the Ministry of Public Security said on Jan 28.

It said in a video conference with its bureaus across the nation that ensuring the passage of ambulances and vehicles for epidemic prevention or those carrying medical personnel, drugs and devices and daily necessities should be the priority at this time.

Rumormongering and slanderous attacks will be cracked down on in accordance with the law, and rumors or fake news about the epidemic situation will be dealt with promptly, the ministry said.

It required police to be deployed in transport stations to keep order and help with quarantining people, vehicles and goods entering or leaving areas under control to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Crimes that disturb social order, including using the epidemic as an excuse to push up prices, hoarding and speculation, will be severely punished, the ministry said.

Measures to maintain growth of SOEs

A series of pragmatic measures will be adopted to ensure the stable growth of State-owned enterprises this year amid a complex economic situation at home and abroad, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission said.

Administration spokesman Peng Huagang said the measures mainly involve five aspects: revenue increase and expenditure reduction; science and technology innovation; supply-side structural reform; reform of SOEs; and defending and removing major risks.

Peng said this year's priority areas in SOE reform include establishing and improving a market-oriented management mechanism and advancing mixed-ownership reform.

A group of reform pioneers will be fostered to lead and set an example for the nationwide reform of SOEs, Peng said.

Every effort will be made to maintain the smooth operation of SOEs this year due to their key roles in economic and social development, he added.