The families of people who died while committing heroic acts in Guangdong province will receive 1 million yuan ($160,000) starting from next year.

The standing committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress approved a regulation on Tuesday, stating that the provincial government will also give pensions to those who act bravely to defend the public interest.

The award is aimed at encouraging non-duty actions to protect the State and the public interest, the safety of others, preventing criminal acts, and rescuing people from accidents and natural disasters.

The government will give people who get injured in heroic acts from 400,000 yuan to 800,000 yuan depending on how seriously they were injured.

County-level governments should establish commissions to identify the heroic acts, the regulation states.

A total of 336 people died while performing heroic acts in Guangdong province in the past 19 years, an average of 18 people each year, according to a report of the China News Service.