Beijing residents could be rewarded with up to 500,000 yuan ($72,460) if they can provide useful information on spies or related activities, according to a government policy that took effect on Monday.
根据10日起生效的一项政府政策，北京市居民如提供间谍或相关活动的有价值信息，最高可获得50万元奖励。
Under the policy, informants are eligible to be offered rewards ranging from 10,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan, depending on how useful the information is, according to the policy issued by the National Security Bureau of Beijing.
北京市国家安全局出台的政策规定，依据举报人提供信息的价值，可以给予其1万元至50万元不等的奖励。
Informants can pass information to authorities by calling a hotline, sending letters or visiting the bureau.
举报人可通过拨打热线电话、寄信或直接上门的方式向政府传递信息。
Informants' privacy and information about spy-related messages will not be disclosed, while information providers can ask authorities for protection if they or their relatives are in danger due to the act of informing, according to the policy.
根据这一政策，举报人的隐私和与间谍相关的信息不会被披露，而信息提供者或其亲属如因为举报行为遇到危险，可以向政府寻求保护。
However, informants will face punishments if they deliberately slander others or invent and spread false information, the policy stipulates.
但该政策规定，举报人如故意诽谤他人或编造传播虚假消息，将面临惩罚。
The bureau said in a release that China is witnessing rapid increases in international exchanges and the number of people entering or exiting the country each year. "Meanwhile, overseas espionage agencies and other hostile forces have also intensified their disruptive activities in China, including political infiltration, subversion and the stealing of intelligence," it said.
北京市国家安全局在新闻稿中表示，中国对外交往明显增多，出入境人员逐年递增。“与此同时，境外间谍情报机关和其他敌对势力也借机加紧对中国进行政治渗透、分裂颠覆、情报窃密等破坏活动。”
Some Chinese individuals have also betrayed the nation to benefit their private interests, which offers overseas espionage agencies opportunities, the bureau said, adding that Beijing, as the capital, is the primary location for such activities.
北京市国家安全局称，有些中国人出于个人私利，出卖国家利益，给境外间谍情报机关以可乘之机。北京作为首都，是发生此类活动的首选地。
"Therefore, it's necessary to implement new measures in anti-espionage investigation, and to encourage the participation of the general public," it said.
“因此，在反间谍侦查中，有必要实施新的措施，鼓励人民群众参与其中。”
One of the most recent cases made public occurred in the eastern province of Jiangsu in January. Two residents in Lianyungang city, surnamed Zhang and Wan, called the national security authorities after they found a device with instructions in foreign languages while fishing in the Yellow Sea. The device was later found to be spying equipment made and used by overseas agencies to collect data, according to an official release.
最近公布的案例之一发生在江苏省。今年1月份，连云港市张姓、万姓两名居民在黄海打渔时发现了一台有外文说明的装置，随后他们打电话通知国家安全部门。据官方公布的消息显示，有关部门随后发现该装置为国外制造和使用的间谍设备，用途是收集数据。
The national security authorities said the two informants received significant financial rewards, but the amount was not disclosed.
国家安全部门表示，两名举报人受到大额经济奖励，但未披露金额。
China has intensified legislation on State security in recent years. In 2014, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted the Counterespionage Law amid a more complex State security situation.
近年来，中国加强了国家安全立法。在国家安全形势愈加复杂的背景下，2014年全国人大常务委员会通过了《中华人民共和国反间谍法》。
The law stipulates that foreign organizations and individuals who conduct espionage activities or who instigate and sponsor others in conducting them will be punished, as will domestic organizations and individuals who spy on the country for foreign organizations and individuals.
该法律规定，从事间谍活动的境外组织和个人或教唆、资助他人从事间谍活动的，以及与境外组织及个人勾结从事间谍活动的境内机构、个人将受到惩罚。