The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a regulation to better manage disaster relief donations in Beijing on Thursday.

The new regulation focused on embezzlers who will be ordered to return donations and will also face legal action.

The donations recovered will only be used for disaster relief, the regulation reads.

Staff working in organizations dealing with donations where severe losses occurred will also face legal action.

The new regulation also expands the type of disaster relief organizations. Social organizations approved by the government above the county level can also receive donations.

The regulation orders that government organizations should not use donations as expenses, but allows non-governmental organizations to use some of the donations as their working expenses.

The regulation also says when natural disasters occur in foreign countries, the civil affairs department of the State Council will coordinate any related aid from non-governmental organizations.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2008)