Harsher air pollution penalties sought

On Thursday, the NPC Standing Committee passed long-delayed revisions to the environmental protection law, the country's fundamental environment law, which stipulates heavier punishment for polluters.

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Top legislature paves way to amend pollution law

Under the amendment, to be enacted on Jan 1, enterprises will be named and shamed for breaking environmental protection laws. Those responsible will face up to 15 days of detention if their companies refuse to suspend production following a ban.

The amendment rules state that if a business illegally discharges pollutants and is fined and asked to correct its wrongdoing by authorities, but refuses to do so, the enterprise may face a fine that accumulates daily. Previously, enterprises faced a one-off fine.

The Chinese public has been hugely concerned with air pollution in recent years amid worsening air quality.

Yu Minhong, founder of New York Stock Exchange-listed New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc, said during a forum on April 21 that there were only five days without smog and haze in Beijing last year, if "judged by the strictest standard of the world".

Yu, who is also a political adviser of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said that his son suffered from fever, cough and cold more than 10 times within two months earlier this year after returning from overseas, according to a Xinhua News Agency report.

Some international companies have also increased the hardship allowance of their employees due to China's air pollution. For example, the Japanese electronics firm Panasonic announced in March that its employees in China will receive compensation pay for air pollution.

Xinhua contributed to this story.