Common Talk Weeklyshuang yu zhou kan
issue date

Society, science, economics, education, transportation
November 5, 2003

SOCIETY

"110" opens foreign language service
“110”外语接警员上岗
The foreign language emergency response system at the city’s “110” Command Center has been officially opened. 18 volunteers became the first group of amateur police officers who can respond to emergency calls in eight foreign languages, including English, German, Japanese, French, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese and Korean.

Community activities thrive
本报社区活动红火
On Nov. 2, performances were held at Xiagang and Luling communities, including singing, dancing, boxing, a Taiji performance and fun games. This was a part of a series of activities held by Xiamen Daily, which has been lasting for a month, to celebrate its Reader’s Day as well as its moving into the new office building.

Transport of sick expatriate facilitated
特殊通道放行外籍病人
On the evening of October 27, Tom Reed, an American engineer working here with Kodak (China) Co., Ltd. suffered a heart attack and was rushed to Hong Kong for medical attention by an emergency rescue airplane. Gaoqi Frontier Inspection Station completed relevant exit formalities for the patient and his attendants at the quickest speed, allowing the rescue operation to proceed smoothly.

SCIENCE

National Invention Expo concludes
全国发明展硕果累累
The 14th National Invention Expo concluded in Xiamen on October 28 with fruitful results. A total of 49 contracts were signed for various technological, economic and trade projects, worth RMB 647 million.

ECONOMICS

Commercial housing to be decorated before sale
商品房将一次装修到位
Local authorities are currently summing up the work related to the pilot program under which commercial housing must be decorated and furnished prior to sale. Relevant regulations in this regard will be refined and submitted to the city government for approval before year-end. Starting from the second half of next year, all newly approved commercial housing projects may be required to be decorated and furnished before sale.

Five people from Fujian make rich list
闽五人上中国富豪榜
The 2003 Forbes List of China’s Richest People was unveiled on October 30. Five people from Fujian Province made it to the list; they were Xu Rongmao in the 3rd place, Guo Hao and his family in the 30th, Han Guolong in the 58th, Shi Wenbo in the 80th and Xu Zilian in the 90th.

Joint-venture talents intermediary agency allowed
合资人才中介允许设立
Starting on November 1, people can apply for the establishment of sino-foreign joint-venture talents intermediary agencies. Under the new regulations, such agencies must each have a registered capital of no less than USD 300,000; a minimum 25% and 51% of the capital must be contributed by the foreign party and the Chinese party, respectively.

EDUCATION

Xiamen University student captures grand award
厦大学子获大奖
Ye Lixian, an English major of the class of 2000 at the College of Foreign Languages && Cultures of Xiamen University, recently captured the grand prize for excellence in literary translation at the Second Global Youth Chinese Literary Award for the New Century. The award was presented by the Faculty of Arts, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Xiamen University to have new campus in Jimei
厦大要到集美建校区
Zhu Chongshi, President of Xiamen University, recently disclosed the university’s plan to build a new campus in Jimei, which will become the second campus after its Zhangzhou campus to be based off the present site of Xiamen University. The new campus will be located in Jimei Culture && Education Zone, covering about 233 hectares.

Xiamen University to recruit faculty worldwide
明年厦大向全球聘贤
Zhu Chongshi, President of Xiamen University, said yesterday that starting from next year, the university will implement a competitive mechanism for the recruitment of faculty members from across the world.

TRANSPORTATION

Xiamen airport opens two new routes
机场新辟两条国际航线
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport opened two new international airline routes on October 27. They are the Shenyang-Xiamen-Singapore route operated by Southern Airlines and the Yabi-Xiamen-Yabi route operated by Malaysia Airlines.

Four roundabouts to be removed
四大转盘近期拆除
Local authorities have planned to demolish the three roundabouts at South Hubin Road, North Hubin Road and Lucuo and replace them with traffic lights; the roundabout at Fushan will also be removed.