PRC: Decision of the State Council on Several Issues Concerning Environmental Protection

By the year 2000, industrial pollution sources all over the country shall meet national or local standards on discharge of pollutants; different provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government should control maximum discharge of major pollutants under their respective jurisdiction within the maximum discharge quantity index laid down by the state. The worsening tendency of environmental pollution and ecological disruption could be generally brought under control. Municipalities directly under the central government, capital cities of provinces, cities within special economic zones, coastal open cities, and key tourist cities should all keep environmental air and environmental quality of surface water up to the corresponding national standards in terms of their functional categories. The Huaihe River and the Taihu Lake should have waters cleared. The Haihe River, the Liaohe River, the Dianchi Lake and the Chaohu Lake should have the quality of surface water markedly improved.