From July to December 2005, the Ministry of Public       Security, with the support of the State Developmen t       and Reform Commission and other authorities,       Sinopetrol and Sinochem,
      carried on the special operation to rectify public order            related to oil and natural gas production and the       transportation through pipelines in 17 provinces,       autonomous regions and municipalities including                                                           Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong and Henan. As a result, criminal cases related to oil and natural gas production and transportation through pipelines were controlled effective ly and public order in oil & gas fields, pipe-lines and the surrounding areas improved remarkably. During the period of the operation, public security agencies cleared 3,238 relevant criminal cases, smashed 196gangand brought 4,498 suspects to justice.