广播听力：China Imposes Severe Penalties to Improve Credibility of Government Statistics

The move, aims to revise the current law, and make government data more credible.

Ma Jiantang is the head, of the National Bureau of Statistics.(www.hxen.com)

"The degree of punishment depends on different situations and consequences of the violations. The punishments include a warning, recording a demerit, or even removing officials from their positions."

The new regulation takes May 1st. It will punish officials, who manipulate or fabricate data, as well as units and individuals, who lie about, or conceal data.

The government will also establish a public complaint hotline.

China's top legislature, discovered serious flaws, during inspections, in recent years.