Regulations on the Protection of Science and Technology Secrets

Title: Regulations on the Protection of Science and Technology Secrets

Promulgating Entities:Ministry of Science and Technology, National Bureau for the Protection of State Secrets

Reference number: Order 2015.16 of the Ministry of Science and Technology and National Bureau for the Protection of State Secrets

Promulgation Date: 2015-11-16

Expiration date:

Source of text: http://www.most.gov.cn/mostinfo/xinxifenlei/fgzc/bmgz/201511/t20151126_122507.htm

We hereby publish the revised Regulations on the Protection of Science and Technology Secrets in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Guarding State Secrets and its implementing regulations, and with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Progress in Science and Technology. The regulations take effect from the date of publish. The prior Regulations on the Protection of Science and Technology Secrets (order 1995.20 of the National Bureau for the Protection of State Secrets and the former State Science and Technology Commission) are simultaneously repealed.

Minister of Science and Technology: Wan Gang
National Bureau for the Protection of State Secrets Chief: Tian Jing
November 16, 2015

Regulations on the Protection of Science and Technology Secrets

Chapter I: General Provisions

Article 1: These regulations are drafted in accordance with the Protection of Science and Technology Secrets in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Guarding State Secrets and its implementing regulations, and with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Progress in Science and Technology, so as to ensure the security of scientific and technological state secrets and to promote the development of science and technology.
Article 2: "Scientific and technological state secrets" as used in these regulations refers to matters in scientific and technological planning, plans, projects and results,that are related to national security and interests, and designated through legally prescribed procedures to be known only to a limited circle of persons for a set period of time.
Article 3: These regulations are applicable to state organs or entities involved with national scientific and technological secrets (organs or entities) as well as individuals carrying out efforts to protect the secrecy of scientific and technological state secrets (efforts to protect scientific and technological secrets).
Article 4: Efforts to protect scientific and technological secrets adhere to the directives of active prevention, emphasizing keypoints, and management in accordance with law; to both ensure the security of scientific and technological state secrets and also promote scientific and technological development.
Article 5: Secrecy protection work for science and technology shall be coordinated with science and technology management work, implementing whole-of-cycle management, with planning, deployment, implementation, inspection, coordination and testing in-step.
Article 6: The state's science and technology administrative management departments manage national science and technology secrecy protection work. Science and technology administrative management departments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government manage science and technology secrecy protection work for their own administrative region(s).
Central state organs guide or manage science and technology secrecy protection work for their industry or system within the scope of their own authority.
Article 7: State secrecy protection administrative management department(s) guide, supervise and inspect the whole country's science and technology secrecy protection work according to law. Secrecy protection administrative management departments at the county level and above guide, supervise and inspect science and technology secrecy protection work within their administrative regions according to law.
Article 8: Organs and units shall implement a work responsibility system for, a sound management system for, shall perfect preventative measures regarding, institute propaganda and education for, and shall strengthen the investigation of, the protection of science and technology secrets.

Chapter II: The scope and grading of scientific and technological state secrets

Article 9: Where the disclosure of science and technology matters relating to national security and interests may result in one of the following consequences, it shall be deemed to be a scientific and technological state secrets:
(1) Weakening the state's defensive and public security capabilities;
(2) Reducing the nation's international competitiveness in science and technology;
(3)　Restricting the people's long-term economic and social development;
(4) Harming the State's reputation, rights and interests, and foreign relations.
The specific scope of scientific and technological state secrets and their classification (hereinafter referred to as the Scope of Scientific and Technological State Secret Matters), shall be determined by the administrative management department for protection of state secrets together with the national science and technology administrative management department.
Article 10: Scientific and technological state secrets shall be divided into three classifications: top secret (绝密), highly secret (机密) and secret (秘密). Scientific and technological state secrets classifications shall be determined pursuant to the degree of harm to the State's security and interests that might result from their disclosure.
Other than where disclosure would cause extremely serious harm to national security and interests, the secrecy classification of scientific and technological state secrets should in principle not be classified as "top secret (绝密)."
Article 11: The following scientific and technological matters, must not be deemed to be scientific and technological state secrets:
(1) Those which are already public inside and outside of China;
(2) Those for which it is difficult to adopt measures to control the scope of those who know them;
(3) Those that are not internationally competitive and do not involve the nation's defensive and public security capacities;
(4) Those traditional arts and crafts which have already been circulated or which are subject to natural restrictions.

Chapter III: Designation, modification and declassification of scientific and technological state secrets

Article 12: Central Party State Organs, Provincial Level Organs and their authorized organs and units may determine top secret (绝密), highly secret (机密) and secret (秘密) levels for Scientific and technological state secrets; first level organs and their authorized organs and units of cities with districts and autonomous prefectures may determine highly secret (机密) and secret (秘密) levels for scientific and technological state secrets.
Article 13: The authorization to make a determination regarding scientific and technological state secrets must be made in accordance with relevant rules for the management of the determination of scientific and technological state secrets. 中央国家机关作出的国家科学技术秘密定密授权，应当向国家科学技术行政管理部门和国家保密行政管理部门备案。 省级机关，设区的市、自治州一级的机关作出的国家科学技术秘密定密授权，应当向省、自治区、直辖市科学技术行政管理部门和保密行政管理部门备案。
Article 14: 机关、单位负责人及其指定的人员为国家科学技术秘密的定密责任人，负责本机关、本单位的国家科学技术秘密确定、变更和解除工作。
Article 15: 机关、单位和个人产生需要确定为国家科学技术秘密的科学技术事项时，应当先行采取保密措施，并依照下列途径进行定密：
（一）属于本规定第十二条规定的机关、单位，根据定密权限自行定密；
（二）不属于本规定第十二条规定的机关、单位，向有相应定密权限的上级机关、单位提请定密；没有上级机关、单位的，向有相应定密权限的业务主管部门提请定密；没有业务主管部门的，向所在省、自治区、直辖市科学技术行政管理部门提请定密；
（三）个人完成的符合本规定第九条规定的科学技术成果，应当经过评价、检测并确定成熟、可靠后，向所在省、自治区、直辖市科学技术行政管理部门提请定密。
Article 16: 实行市场准入管理的技术或者实行市场准入管理的产品涉及的科学技术事项需要确定为国家科学技术秘密的，向批准准入的国务院有关主管部门提请定密。
Article 17: Organs and units engaged in the administration of the following sectors, shall promptly perform the work of classifying secrets:
(1) Preparation of science and technological programmes (规划);
(2) Drawing up science and technological plans (计划);
(3) launching science and technology projects;
(4) Evaluation and appraisal of scientific and technological results;
(5) Making an inventory of scientific and technological projects;
Article 18: When determining a State scientific or technological secret, the name, secrecy classification, the length of time that the secrets should be protected， the main points for secrets protection and the scope of persons to whom the secret may be entrusted.
Article 19: The main points for secrets protection of State science and technology secrets refers to the core matters and information necessary to preserve security, and principally involves the following:
(1) Scientific and technological development strategies (战略), guidelines (方针), policies (政策) and specific plans that are not suitable to be made public;
(2) Manufacturing targets, lines and processes for projects that involve secrets;
(3) Resources, species, goods/materials, data and information for sensitive fields;
(4) Crucial technological keys, parameters and techniques;
（五）科学技术成果涉密应用方向；
(6) Other core information whose disclosure would result in harm to State security and the national interest.
Article 20: 国家科学技术秘密有下列情形之一的，应当及时变更密级、保密期限或者知悉范围：
（一）定密时所依据的法律法规或者国家科学技术保密事项范围已经发生变化的；
（二）泄露后对国家安全和利益的损害程度会发生明显变化的。
国家科学技术秘密的变更，由原定密机关、单位决定，也可由其上级机关、单位决定。
Article 21: Where a State scientific or technological secret's specific secrecy protection period has elapsed, or the time for declassification has been reached or it has met declassification criteria, it shall be automatically declassified. Where one of the following circumstances occur, it shall be declassified earlier:
(1) Where the [secret(s)] have already been disseminated and remedial measures cannot be taken;
(2) Where, following adjustment of the scope of a State scientific or technological secret or laws or regulations, [the secret] is no longer a State scientific or technological secret;
(3) Where it will not [不会] harm the security or interests of the State after it has been made public;
An early declassification determination may be made by the original organ or unit that issued the secrecy classification, or it may also be made by a higher level organ or unit.
Article 22: Where it is necessary for a state scientific or technological secret[s] to have its period of classification extended, a determination shall be issued prior to the expiry of the classification period and written notice shall be given to those organs, units or individuals falling within the scope of disclosure of the secret[s]. A decision to extend the classification period may be made by the original organ or unit that issued the secrecy classification, or it may also be made by a higher level organ or unit.
Article 23: A record must be filed for the determination alteration or removal of a State scientific or technological secret:
(1) Provincial, autonomous regional and directly-administered municipal administrative management departments for scientific and technological secrets and relevant departments of central state organs shall file a record reporting to the State scientific and technological secrets department information regarding the determination, alteration and removal of State science and technology secrets within their own administrative area or department on December 31 of each year;
(2) Where other organs or units determine, alter or remove state scientific or technological secrets, they shall file a record of it with the corresponding level government science and technology secrets administrative management department within 20 working days of that determination, alteration or removal.
Article 24: Where a science and technology administrative management department discovers that an organ or unit has improperly determined, altered or removed a State scientific or technological secret, it shall promptly issue a notification and correct it.
Article 25: Where an organ or unit has a different view on whether a certain classified matter is a state science and technology secret or concerning what is the appropriate classification level, it is resolved in accordance with the relevant secrecy provisions.

Chapter IV: Administration of Secrets for scientific and technological state secrets
Article 26: The state's science and technology administrative management departments manage national science and technology secrecy protection work. Its principal duties are as follows:
(1) Issue or issue in conjunction with relevant departments, a system of rules for the protection of science and technology secrets;
(2) Guide and manage the work of determining State science and technology secrets;
(3) Investigate according to regulations matters concerning foreign State scientific and technological secrets;
(4) Inspect science and technology secrets protection work nation-wide, and assist State secrets protection administrative management departments in the investigation of cases of disclosure of scientific and technological state secrets;
(5) Organizing the development of science and technology secrets protection propaganda education and training;
(6) Honoring collectives and individuals for State science and technology secrets protection work.
The State science and technology secrets administrative management department shall establish the State science and technology secrets protection office, which shall be responsible for the day-to-day work of State science and technology secrets protection management.
Article 27: Science and technological administrative management departments of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government and relevant departments of Central Party State Organs, shall establish or guide specialized institutions for managing scientific and technological state secrets work. Its principal duties are as follows:
(1) To carry out the implementation of policies and guidelines for scientific and technological secrets protection work, formulating a scientific and technological secrecy protection regulatory system for their own administrative area, department or system;
(2) Guide and manage the work of determining State scientific and technological secrets within their own administrative area, department or system;
(3) Investigate according to regulations matters concerning foreign State scientific and technological secrets;
(4) Supervise and inspect science and technology secrecy protection work within their own administrative area, department or system, coordinating the investigation by secrecy protection administrative management departments of cases of leaked State scientific and technological secrets;
(5) Organize propaganda, education and training on scientific and technological secrets protection within their own administrative area, department or system;
(6) Commend leading collectives and individuals for State scientific and technological secrecy protection work within their own administrative area, department or system.
Article 28: Organs and units manage their own organ or unit's State scientific and technological secrecy protection work. Its principal duties are as follows:
(1) Establish a sound scientific and technological secrecy protection management system;
(2) Establish or appoint a specialist institution to manage scientific and technological secrets protection work;
(3) Undertake secrecy determination work for scientific and technological secrets according to law, manage projects, activities and results [成果] involving scientific and technological secrets;
(4) Determine those persons who may be cleared to access state scientific or technological secrets (hereinafter referred to as persons with secrecy clearance), and shall strengthen the secrecy propaganda, education training and supervision and management of persons with secrecy clearance;
（五）加强计算机及信息系统、涉密载体和涉密会议活动保密管理，严格对外科学技术交流合作和信息公开保密审查；
（六）发生资产重组、单位变更等影响国家科学技术秘密管理的事项时，及时向上级机关或者业务主管部门报告。
Article 29: 涉密人员应当遵守以下保密要求：
（一）严格执行国家科学技术保密法律法规和规章以及本机关、本单位科学技术保密制度；
（二）接受科学技术保密教育培训和监督检查；
（三）产生涉密科学技术事项时，先行采取保密措施，按规定提请定密，并及时向本机关、本单位科学技术保密管理机构报告；
（四）参加对外科学技术交流合作与涉外商务活动前向本机关、本单位科学技术保密管理机构报告；
（五）发表论文、申请专利、参加学术交流等公开行为前按规定履行保密审查手续；
（六）发现国家科学技术秘密正在泄露或者可能泄露时，立即采取补救措施，并向本机关、本单位科学技术保密管理机构报告；
（七）离岗离职时，与机关、单位签订保密协议，接受脱密期保密管理，严格保守国家科学技术秘密。
Article 30: Agencies, working groups, and individuals involved in the following scientific and technological cooperative activities and exchanges must not touch upon scientific and technological state secrets:
(1) Those conducting public lectures, advanced studies, investigations, and other collaborative research activities on science and technology;
(2) Those using the internet and other public information networks, broadcast radio, film, television, as well as publicly released newspaper and periodicals, books, visual material, and audio-visual products to disseminate reports or publish scholarly articles;
(3) Those publicizing exhibitions, displays, and other activities on science and technology.
Article 31: 机关、单位和个人应当加强国家科学技术秘密信息保密管理，存储、处理国家科学技术秘密信息应当符合国家保密规定。 任何机关、单位和个人不得有下列行为：
（一）非法获取、持有、复制、记录、存储国家科学技术秘密信息；
（二）使用非涉密计算机、非涉密存储设备存储、处理国家科学技术秘密；
（三）在互联网及其他公共信息网络或者未采取保密措施的有线和无线通信中传递国家科学技术秘密信息；
（四）通过普通邮政、快递等无保密措施的渠道传递国家科学技术秘密信息；
（五）在私人交往和通信中涉及国家科学技术秘密信息；
（六）其他违反国家保密规定的行为。
Article 32: 对外科学技术交流与合作中需要提供国家科学技术秘密的，应当经过批准，并与对方签订保密协议。 绝密级国家科学技术秘密原则上不得对外提供，确需提供的，应当经中央国家机关有关主管部门同意后，报国家科学技术行政管理部门批准；机密级国家科学技术秘密对外提供应当报中央国家机关有关主管部门批准；秘密级国家科学技术秘密对外提供应当报中央国家机关有关主管部门或者省、自治区、直辖市人民政府有关主管部门批准。
有关主管部门批准对外提供国家科学技术秘密的，应当在10个工作日内向同级政府科学技术行政管理部门备案。
Article 33: 机关、单位开展涉密科学技术活动的，应当指定专人负责保密工作、明确保密纪律和要求，并加强以下方面保密管理：
（一）研究、制定涉密科学技术规划应当制定保密工作方案，签订保密责任书；
（二）组织实施涉密科学技术计划应当制定保密制度；
（三）举办涉密科学技术会议或者组织开展涉密科学技术展览、展示应当采取必要的保密管理措施，在符合保密要求的场所进行；
（四）涉密科学技术活动进行公开宣传报道前应当进行保密审查。
Article 34: 涉密科学技术项目应当按照以下要求加强保密管理：
（一）涉密科学技术项目在指南发布、项目申报、专家评审、立项批复、项目实施、结题验收、成果评价、转化应用及科学技术奖励各个环节应当建立保密制度；
（二）涉密科学技术项目下达单位与承担单位、承担单位与项目负责人、项目负责人与参研人员之间应当签订保密责任书；
（三）涉密科学技术项目的文件、资料及其他载体应当指定专人负责管理并建立台账；
（四）涉密科学技术项目进行对外科学技术交流与合作、宣传展示、发表论文、申请专利等，承担单位应当提前进行保密审查；
（五）涉密科学技术项目原则上不得聘用境外人员，确需聘用境外人员的，承担单位应当按规定报批。
Article 35: 涉密科学技术成果应当按以下要求加强保密管理：
（一）涉密科学技术成果在境内转让或者推广应用，应当报原定密机关、单位批准，并与受让方签订保密协议；
（二）涉密科学技术成果向境外出口，利用涉密科学技术成果在境外开办企业，在境内与外资、外企合作，应当按照本规定第三十二条规定报有关主管部门批准。
Article 36: 机关、单位应当按照国家规定，做好国家科学技术秘密档案归档和保密管理工作。
Article 37: 机关、单位应当为科学技术保密工作提供经费、人员和其他必要的保障条件。 国家科学技术行政管理部门，省、自治区、直辖市科学技术行政管理部门应当将科学技术保密工作经费纳入部门预算。
Article 38: 机关、单位应当保障涉密人员正当合法权益。 对参与国家科学技术秘密研制的科技人员，有关机关、单位不得因其成果不宜公开发表、交流、推广而影响其评奖、表彰和职称评定。
对确因保密原因不能在公开刊物上发表的论文，有关机关、单位应当对论文的实际水平给予客观、公正评价。
Article 39: 国家科学技术秘密申请知识产权保护应当遵守以下规定：
（一）绝密级国家科学技术秘密不得申请普通专利或者保密专利；
（二）机密级、秘密级国家科学技术秘密经原定密机关、单位批准可申请保密专利；
（三）机密级、秘密级国家科学技术秘密申请普通专利或者由保密专利转为普通专利的，应当先行办理解密手续。
Article 40: 机关、单位对在科学技术保密工作方面作出贡献、成绩突出的集体和个人，应当给予表彰；对于违反科学技术保密规定的，给予批评教育；对于情节严重，给国家安全和利益造成损害的，应当依照有关法律、法规给予有关责任人员处分，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。

Chapter V: Supplementary Provisions

Article 41: Management of secrets for science and technology involving national defense is enforced in accordance with the relevant departmental provisions.
Article 42: The Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Bureau for the Protection of State Secrets are responsible for the interpretation of these regulations.
Article 43: These regulations take effect from the date of promulgation, and the 1995 Regulations on the Protection of Science and Technology Secrets (order 1995.20 of the National Bureau for the Protection of State Secrets and the State Science and Technology Commission) are simultaneously repealed.