China's top legislator Li Peng has called on governments at all levels to raise their financial and practical input into fire control, as fire facilities in many places are not up to national standards.
Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the call Sunday at a meeting of NPC officials, who will be going to Tianjin and five other regions in May to examine the enforcement of the fire control law which was passed by the legislative body in 1998.
He stressed that governments at all levels should take the primary responsibility for the enforcement of the fire control law and that they should not take short cuts in the construction of fire facilities.
The top legislator demanded that the police and fire departments be tougher in their law enforcement activities, as police inspection has revealed fire risks in many public sites.
He also spoke of the importance of constantly raising the public awareness of the need for fire safety through the media.
(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2002)
