Guideline issued to protect Good Samaritans

BEIJING - China on Thursday issued a government guideline to better protect Good Samaritans and offer them more preferential treatment in all aspects of their lives.

The guideline, which was published on the official website of the Chinese central government, stipulates in detail the measures to protect Good Samaritans' rights in basic household living standards, employment, education and housing, as well as health care for those who are wounded or disabled in the course of their heroic actions.

Co-issued by the ministries of civil affairs, education, public security, finance, social security, housing and health, the guideline also urges relevant departments to seriously implement policies of providing allowances and benefits to Good Samaritans who die or become disabled due to their actions.

Allowances, awards and bonuses given to Good Samaritans will not be taxed, and Good Samaritans who are injured will be provided with medical treatment, which should be paid for by those responsible for the injuries or the basic medical security system. Medical costs should be remitted or reduced if they are unaffordable, according to the guideline.

In the meantime, the offspring of Good Samaritans who die or are injured will be given priority in public school enrollment.

Sun Shaocheng, vice minister of civil affairs, said the guideline was created in order to resolve some difficulties in the practices of giving support to Good Samaritans, as there are no clear, unified standards and policies for giving them allowances.

"The guideline is conducive to resolving the practical difficulties of the Good Samaritans and their families," said Sun.

"It will also help foster a healthy social atmosphere by promoting justice and play an active role in maintaining social harmony and stability," he said.

The guideline also came after a series of Good Samaritans whose heroic actions saved many lives and moved the whole country.

One of them is bus driver Wu Bin from Hangzhou in east China. He saved 24 passengers on his bus on May 29, when he was driving and was hit by a large metal fragment that flew through the windshield of the bus, mortally wounding him.

Wu managed to stop the bus, turn on the hazard lights, put on the parking brake, open the door of the bus and ask passengers to evacuate before collapsing from his injuries. He died three days later.

Those Good Samaritans who sacrifice their lives will be recognized as revolutionary martyears and their relatives will be provided with favorable treatment in line with the National Regulation on Honoring Revolutionary Martyears, if their actions meet the conditions set forth in law provisions, the guideline says

It also urges governments at all levels to step up efforts to safeguard the rights and interests of Good Samaritans. A long-term mechanism will be put forward jointly by local public security, civil affairs, financial and human resources departments so as to help improve the livelihood of the Good Samaritans' families.

The guideline urges governments at all levels to encourage social participation in protecting Good Samaritans by fostering non-governmental organizations, so as to strengthen their capacities to serve Good Samaritans and their families.