中国廣東省廣州市發現有染汚米

Yesterday the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

カドミウム汚染米、情報小出しの広州当局に批判

【広州＝吉田健一】中国広東省広州市で、有害物質のカドミウムに汚染された米が流通していたことが発覚した。

　中国では「食の安全」への住民の関心が高いが、当局が情報を小出しにしたため、インターネット上やメディアで当局批判が噴出した。

　市当局は１６日、調査した米と米加工品の計１８サンプルのうち八つから、基準値を超えるカドミウムが検出されたと発表した。だが詳細の公表は拒んだ。

　これに対し微博（中国版ツイッター）では、「住民の健康より業者が大切なのか」と批判が噴出。広州の大学生は情報公開条例に基づき、関連情報の開示を求めた。世論の反発に押された当局は１７、１８日の２回、サンプルを抽出した飲食店名や米のブランド名などを立て続けに公表することを余儀なくされた。

（2013年5月21日22時54分 読売新聞）

 (試譯文)

It was revealed that the rice polluted by cadmium, a toxic substance, was being circulated in Guanzhou of Guangdong Province in China.

   Although the residents’ concern for "food safety" was high in China, the authorities gave out information in small bits only. In the Internet and the media there was an out pour of criticism over the authorities.

   The City administration announced on the 16th that cadmium exceeding the safety standard level was detected in eight of a total of 18 investigated samples of rice and rice processed products. But the administration resisted giving more details in its official announcement.

   On the other hand, in Weibo (the China version of twitter), criticism poured out asking that "whether a contractor's good being is more important than residents' health" and the college students of Guanzhou asked for the disclosure of pertinent information based on the access to information laws. The authorities pushed by the rebounding of public opinion were obliged to release in succession, twice on the 17th and the 18^th, the name of the restaurant which sample had been extracted and the brand name of the rice etc.

It is nice to note that the authorities have responded to the popular demand and released more information about the contamination.