Beijing enhances emergency response

Official departments in Beijing should make information public related to major emergencies no later than five hours after they are first known, according to a new requirement announced by the municipal government on Friday.

It is one of the measures aimed at further promoting public information disclosure and accelerating emergency response. The municipal government on Friday announced the newly revised edition of Beijing's general contingency plan in the event of major emergencies, which was carried out in 2004 for the first time as guidance for governmental work on the sector.

Han Geng, deputy secretary-general of the municipal government, said at a news conference on Friday that for major emergencies that take place in core areas or during special periods, related departments should contact the city's emergency office right away and deliver detailed information within two hours.

"Meanwhile, departments in charge should pay attention to public opinion on the internet and publish information via media outlets as soon as possible－within five hours at the latest,"Han said.

The plan includes workflows of comprehensive emergency management in four sectors－namely natural disasters, major accidents, public health and social security incidents.

"Notably, the plan makes clear that initial alerts should prioritize special groups like the aged, children, infirm, pregnant and disabled to make sure they are informed," Han said.

Liu Hongwei, head of the flood control and drought relief unit at the Beijing Water Authority, said China has seen many extreme weather events in many regions this year and Beijing has been closely following circumstances to gain experiences, especially related to responses to severe storms and urban flood hazards.

Beijing's strict and swift actions on contagion control and prevention measures have been innovative and effective, said Cao Yu, director of the emergency office of the Beijing Health Commission.

"Our experiences in antivirus combat have contributed to the completion of the city's emergency response management," Cao said.

During the Xinfadi wholesale market COVID-19 infection in June last year, Beijing authorities adopted management methods organized on the basis of residential communities rather than sub-districts or districts.

"Smaller unit management vis-a-vis contagion control and prevention can affect less people with more accurate measures, which is beneficial for the resumption of work and study," said Lu Yan, vice-mayor of Beijing, when commenting on the measures in July last year.