Tough rules for delivery

A draft regulation, published on Monday by the legal authorities of the State Council, China's Cabinet, aims to better regulate express delivery companies to protect the interests of customers and promote the orderly and healthy development of the industry.

The draft is soliciting public opinions until Dec 15. It says domestic express delivery companies face fines of up to 50,000 yuan ($7,800) or having their licenses suspended and even revoked if they leak or illegally sell customers' personal information, and engage in such misconduct as mishandling packages.

Such measures are necessary steps toward regulating the express delivery industry which is booming with the ever-growing popularity of online shopping. Figures from the State Post Bureau show that the delivery sector has realized an annual growth of more than 50 percent over the past five years, and almost 20 billion parcels are expected to be delivered in 2015.