STMA Chief Gives Instructions on Relief, Restoration in Wake of Devastating Quake

Source from:  Special report by TobaccoChina Online 05/20/2008

Director-General Jiang Chengkang of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), in the wake of a devastating earthquake that hard hit vast areas in southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12, has given a series of instructions on disaster relief and restoration of local tobacco production. Since the magnitude-8 earthquake, the leadership of the STMA - the regulator of China's tobacco industry - has paid much attention to and shown great concern about damage to the tobacco industry of Sichuan, repeatedly sending messages to seek information on it. On behalf of the Communist Party's leading group at the STMA, Jiang has extended greetings to all officials and workers with the provincial tobacco industry, and expressed deep condolences to the families and relatives of all those who were killed in the catastrophe. According to a statement posted on the official website of the STMA, Jiang gave the following specific instructions on disaster relief and restoration of production on the part of the provincial tobacco industry: Firstly, great importance must be attached to the safety of life of all workers and their dependants. For Sichuan Provincial Tobacco Monopoly Administration and tobacco companies in the areas stricken by the earthquake, they must extend proper assistance to the families of those who were killed, and do all they can to search and rescue all who are still listed as missing. Secondly, steps must be taken to make proper arrangements for the daily life of workers and their dependants, and examine all workshop buildings, trading sites and dwelling houses to check their safety. No one may use any endangered houses for production or living, to prevent any secondary disasters from taking place. The Chinese nation's fine tradition that "When a disaster strikes, help comes from all sides" needs to be carried forward under the present situation. With a long-term perspective, all local tobacco monopoly administrations and tobacco companies should get things ready for a prolonged struggle and adopt effective measures to solve all problems related to the placement of workers affected by the disaster. And thirdly, tobacco production and trade need to be restored at an appropriate time. On the premise of making proper arrangements for the daily life of workers and their dependants in the disaster areas, response should be made in accordance with the local realities, and effective measures that suit the local conditions and the present situation should be adopted to earnestly and well implement measures for production safety and go a good job of restoring tobacco production and trade, giving priority to whatever work that requires an early settlement. Sichuan is also a large tobacco-producing region in China. The confirmed death toll from the earthquake rose to 34,073, the State Council, China's Cabinet, said on May 19. Chinese officials have said they expect the final death toll top more than 50,000, while 245,108 people remained injured. The quake has caused serious damage to buildings, bridges and other public facilities in an area of more than 100,000 square kilometers both in Sichuan and its neighboring regions. Quake-related losses to companies totaled 67 billion yuan (9.5 billion U.S. dollars), Deputy Industry Minister Xi Guohua said Monday. Enditem