HARD TO SAY GOODBYE: Villagers say goodbye to People’s Liberation Army soldiers as they leave quake-hit Yinghua Town in Shifang City, southwest Sichuan Province, on July 21

The government and the public should take more responsibility for saving electricity and fuel to ease energy strains, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at a recent meeting of the State Council, adding that tight energy supplies have greatly hindered China's economic development.

Energy waste is a serious problem in government departments and institutions, centrally-administrated enterprises, large public projects and individual households, said Wen.

The government should improve energy efficiency through comprehensive measures to reduce the energy consumption of vehicles, heating and air conditioning facilities and lighting.

The State Council also passed two draft regulations on energy saving measures for public institutions and residential buildings.

Transparent Government

China urged its government departments to provide the public with free published information to protect the right to know and improve government transparency.

Government departments should provide free and timely information through government websites, communiqués, news conferences or the media, Xu Kunlin, a National Development and Reform Commission official, said during a recent online interview with Xinhua.

Such information includes department structure, administrative function, official work and administrative documents required by the Provisions on the Disclosure of Government Information that took effect on May 1, Xu said.

Marine Safety

The Olympic co-host city Qingdao has applied underwater robots and video cameras to ensure the safety of the upcoming Olympic sailing competitions, the event organizers said recently.

"The naval forces have launched an underwater monitoring system, including setting up underwater video cameras, robots and divers in the open port, to watch for potential threats," said Qingdao Vice Mayor Zang Aimin, who is also vice chairperson of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Committee.

The Olympic sailing events run from August 9 to 23 in Qingdao, a coastal city in east Shandong Province. Some 400 athletes from 65 countries and regions will compete for 11 gold medals.

Zang said that the massive algae bloom threatening the Olympic sailing venue had almost been cleared, with only 0.1 square km left.

Bus Bomber Wanted

The reward for anyone who provides information that can help solve the case of the fatal bus explosions in Kunming was raised from 100,000 yuan ($14,280) to 300,000 yuan ($42,860), the local public security bureau announced on July 23.

Explosions occurred on two Route 54 buses during the morning rush hour of July 21 in the Yunnan provincial capital, leaving two dead and 14 injured.

One blast was on West Renmin Road at 7:10 a.m., while the second was at the nearby intersection of Changyuan Road and West Renmin Road at 8:05 a.m.

Migrant Workers' Protection

As a fresh effort to boost the status of China's 150 million migrant workers in cities, the Central Government has set up a special department to safeguard their rights, help them get training and ensure safe working conditions, under the newly formed Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

The department will help the workers get their wages on time, sign labor contracts with employers and get proper training, as well as work for their social security. Arranging for a large-scale flow of laborers will be part of its job too. The other major task will be to select the "best migrant workers" and encourage this "not-so-well-educated army" to integrate into the urban environment.