Recently, the Official Web Portal of the Chinese Central Government displays typical web pages of government information publicity from 15 departments under the State Council, including that of SIPO (http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2008-05/01/content_959413.htm). With different styles, these web pages of government information publicity made by departments affiliated to the State Council timely and precisely publicize the information related to their respective departments, facilitating the public to inquire related government information.

Starting May 1, the Regulations on Government Information Publicity become effective, which will exert important influence upon China’s economic and social development. The Regulations clarify the governments’ obligation of information publicity to ensure people’s right to know. According to the regulations, administrative departments should actively publicize information in line with the one of the following basic conditions: information with immediate interests to the civics, legal persons or other organizations; information that needs to be known or participated in widely by the social publics; information on the structure, functions and procedures of the administrative departments; and other information that should be actively publicized according to laws, rules and related state regulations.