In addition, company executives will face pay cuts or demotions if serious accidents occur on their watch or go unreported. The circular advised SOEs to set up supervisory bodies for workplace safety.

Residents Flee Storm

About 230,000 people in south China's Fujian Province and 230,000 in eastern Zhejiang Province were evacuated from their homes until September 15 before a tropical storm swept across east China's coastal regions.

Typhoon Sinlaku made landfall in northeast Taiwan on September 14, injuring 13 people. By 8 a.m. the next day, it had weakened into a tropical storm and appeared likely to change direction away from China's mainland, said Li Jian, head of the Zhejiang Meteorological Bureau.

Sinlaku is the 13th tropical storm to hit China this year.

Ice Research Approved

A recently approved research project could help China develop an alternative energy source.

China's National Basic Research Program, or 973 Program, has authorized research on combustible ice in the South China Sea, the Nanfang Daily reported on September 17. One cubic meter of combustible ice, a type of natural gas hydrate, is equivalent to 164 cubic meters of natural gas.

The research, which will fully begin in January 2009, is receiving support from the 973 Program for the first time.