(2) delaying submission of report, or giving false report, on information about an emergency, concealing or omitting certain facts, or circulating, submitting or releasing false information, thus leading to adverse consequences;

(3) failing to give the alarm for an emergency or take measures for the period of early warning in a timely manner according to regulations, thus resulting in damage;

(4) failing to take timely measures for handling the emergency according to regulations, or failing to handle the emergency appropriately, thus causing adverse consequences;

(5) failing to follow the unified leadership, command and coordination of the people's government at a higher level or handling an emergency;

(6) failing, in a timely manner, to organize and carry out production for self-support, rehabilitation, reconstruction and other post-emergency work;

(7) withholding, misappropriating or illegally sharing the funds or materials for emergency rescue or illegally sharing them in disguised form; or

(8) failing to return the expropriated property of the units or individuals in a timely manner, or failing to compensate according to regulations the units or individuals whose property is expropriated.

Article 64 Under one of the following circumstances, a related unit shall be ordered by the local people's government performing the duty of unified leadership to suspend production or business operation, the said government shall have its permit or business license suspended or revoked, and in addition, impose on it a fine of not less than RMB50,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan; and if its act constitutes a violation of the regulations for administration of public security, a penalty shall be imposed on it by the public security organ according to law:

(1) failing to take preventive measures according to regulations, thus causing the occurrence of a serious emergency;

(2) failing, in a timely manner, to remove the hidden danger it discovers which may lead to the occurrence of an emergency, thus causing the occurrence of a serious emergency;

(3) failing to do a good job of the routine maintenance and testing of the emergency equipment and facilities, thus causing the occurrence of a serious emergency or the expansion of the scale of the damage inflicted by the emergency; or

(4) failing, in a timely manner, to organize and carry out emergency rescue after the occurrence of an emergency, thus causing serious consequences.

Where other laws or administrative regulations provide that with respect toany of the violations specified in the preceding paragraph, a penalty shall be decided on by the relevant department of the people's government according to law, such provisions shall apply.

Article 65 Any unit or individual that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, fabricates and disseminates false information on the development or handling of an emergency, or knowingly disseminates such false information, shall be ordered to put it right and shall be given a warning; where serious consequences are caused, it/he shall suspend business operation or its/his practicing certificate shall be revoked according to law; if the leading person directly responsible is a State functionary, he shall, in addition, be given a sanction according to law; and if such an act constitutes a violation of the regulations for administration of public security, a penalty shall be imposed by the public security organ according to law.

Article 66 Where any unit or individual, in violation of the provisions of this Law, fails to follow the decisions or orders of the local people's government and its relevant departments or refuses to act in coordination with the measures taken thereby according to law, which constitutes a violation of the regulations for administration of public security, a penalty shall be imposed on it/him by the public security organ according to law.

Article 67 Any unit or individual that violates the provisions of this Law, which leads to the occurrence of an emergency or the expansion of the scale of the damage, thus causing personal harm or property losses to another person, shall bear civil liability according to law.

Article 68 Anyone who violates the provisions of this Law, which constitutes a crime, shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law.

Chapter VII

Supplementary Provisions

Article 69 Where an especially serious emergency occurs, which posts a major threat to the safety of the lives and property of the people, to national security, public security, environmental safety or social order, and the serious harm which inflicts on the society cannot be eliminated, kept under effective control or mitigated by taking the measures for handling emergency, as provided for in this Law and in other relevant laws, administrative regulations and rules, therefore it is necessary to enter into a state of emergency, the matter shall be subject to decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress or the State Council within the limits of their power and according to procedure as provided for by the Constitution and the relevant laws.

The extraordinary measures taken during the period of a state of emergency shall be carried out according to the provisions of the relevant laws or be enacted separately by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Article 70 This Law shall go into effect as of November 1, 2007.