Bureau to control mapping and surveys

GUANGZHOU: Authorities in Guangdong are cracking down on illegal surveying and mapping to better regulate the geographic information industry in the southern province, a land resources official said yesterday.

The provincial land resources department plans to strictly control the gathering, offering and usage of confidential geographic information, said Zhang Xinming, an inspector with the department.

Foreign organizations, businesses and individuals have been told that they must apply to the central government's surveying and mapping authority for approval to gather geographic information in the southern province.