BBC News Online
June 26, 2006

China is considering imposing financial penalties on media outlets that report emergency incidents without prior permission. Media organizations could face fines of more than $10,000 if they disobey.

China is considering imposing financial penalties on media outlets which report emergency incidents without prior government agreement. Media organisations could face fines of more than $10,000 if they disobey. It is unclear when the regulations might come into force and whether they cover international media organisations as well as local ones. … Last year, officials in north-east China at first covered up a toxic chemical spill in the Songhua River, which meant nine million residents in the city of Harbin were without public water supplies for nearly a week.