On the Openness of Governmental Information on Emergency Control in China.

The openness of governmental information is of crucial importance to a government when facing an emergency or an event that will lead to serious consequence and going to deal with it. If the openness comes true, a government will do better in keeping social order and safeguarding public security, guaranteeing people's right to information, containing effectively the rumor spreading and, eventually molding the public image for itself. Nowadays the governments at different levels in China have made progress to a certain extent in this regard though some problems are still to be solved urgently, such as that some governments are reluctant to play the role of source in information opening, no sufficient supports given from legal system, lack of authorized department to release the information on emergencies, improper information control system for emergencies and, especially, the media often play the part instead of a government spokesman to release news/information on emergencies. To solve those problems, it is necessary to lead the media to guide well the public opinion to which the government shall function as the source of information, and the openness of governmental information shall be enhanced lawfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]