According to the Chinese government website, the State Council today issued an announcement declaring that, in order to express the deep condolences of all ethnic groups in China for their compatriots who perished in the Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake, the State Council has decided that May 19 to 21, 2008 will be days of national mourning. The full text of the announcement is as follows:
Announcement of the State Council
In order to express the deep condolences of all ethnic groups in China for their compatriots who perished in the Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake, the State Council has decided that May 19 to 21, 2008 will be days of national mourning. During this period, flags shall be flown at half-mast across the country and at all overseas institutions, public entertainment activities shall be suspended, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese embassies and consulates abroad shall establish condolence books. Starting at 14:28 on May 19, the people of the entire nation will observe three minutes of silence, during which time automobiles, trains, and ships shall sound their horns and air-raid sirens shall wail.