Water law approved with 'chief' system

An amendment to China's Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law - including a "river chief" system - was approved at the closing ceremony of the bimonthly session of the top legislative body on Tuesday. It will take effect on Jan 1.

As enacted, the law includes provisions for a river chief system, a new mechanism under which leading officials assume major responsibility for addressing water pollution. It is expected to cover the provincial, city, county and township levels.

"The new system has worked in some areas," said Tong Weidong, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission's Office for State Law under the top legislative body, in the closing news release on Tuesday.