China's Red Cross welcomes public scrutiny  

赵白鸽：对违法违规操作坚决处理，绝不手软

“希望新闻媒体和社会各界加强对红会善款使用的监督。我们的原则是，对于违法违规操作坚决处理，绝不手软。”中国红十字会常务副会长赵白鸽22日在北京通报四川芦山地震筹款情况时说。

Beijing (CNS) --The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) said on Monday that it welcomes public supervision over donations for earthquake victims and that any illegal activity will be severely punished.

Zhao Baige, executive vice-president of the RCSC, said at a press briefing that each donation and expenditure is listed on its official website. Zhao also pledged openness, transparency and efficiency.

Wang Yong, a member of the social supervisory committee of the society, said the committee is responsible for supervising but is also under public supervision.

Anyone can report law-breaking behavior by the society, and the committee will not cover up for the society, Wang said.

The committee has a right to deny wrong allegations as well as a duty to report flaws, he added.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, the society had received 122.3 million yuan ($19.7 million) in public donations and sent 23 rescue teams, and allocated 29.3 million yuan to quake-hit regions, according to the society.

Special report:

7.0-magnitude earthquake jolts Ya'an, Sichuan