Road to professional secretaries
如何做秘书 高手指点你
By Jean Chen



How to become a professional and dazzling female secretary? The lecture "Walk to the world", which was given at the Best Western Premier Xiamen Central Hotel(厦门京闽中心酒店) on the afternoon of April 21, seemed to offer some hints to it.

The lecturer, Miss Nicole, a renowned professional trainer working for Singaporean Airlines, shared her experience with over seventy secretaries from Xiamen's foreign related companies, including GN Resound and ABB.

According to Miss Nicole, the three Ts "tact, timing, tolerance" are the essential keys to the road of success.
A secretary uniform show was also staged.

 

Hope for disabled kids
厦门外籍人组织(AXE)资助残疾儿
By Kent Hill

On the evening of April 12, AXE (Association for Xiamen Ex-pats) held a charity dinner to raise money to help support Xiamen's Siming School for the Disabled and the HOPE Project. The event took place at the Havana restaurant and activities consisted of eating delicious food and participating in a fund-raising raffle. The various prizes offered in the raffle, which ranged from electronics to dried fruit, were donated completely free of charge by local businesses around Xiamen.

In total, the proceeds from the activity exceeded RMB 5,000, all of which will be given to help the two organizations. AXE has held three similar events in the past sponsoring the school for disabled children. The organizers in charge of AXE try their best to hold gatherings like these at least twice a year, giving ex-pats and anyone interested a chance to congregate and also a chance to better the local community.

 

Economics

Q1 housing price rises by RMB409
首季度住宅价格涨409元
In the first quarter of this year, commercial housing in Xiamen averaged RMB 4,706 per square meter, up RMB 275 from the previous quarter; the average price of commercial apartments stood at RMB 4,365/sq m, up RMB 409 from the previous quarter. Most housing estates are now in the price range of RMB 4,000-5,000/sq m.

Former Farewell Tower to be converted into Hilton
原远华大厦将建成"喜来登"
Senior officers with Fuchun Dongfang, the new owner of the former Farewell Tower, said the company plans to inject RMB 500 million to convert the building into the first five-star international-standard grand Hilton hotel in Xiamen and even in the entire province. Fuchun Dongfang is due to sign an official co-operation agreement with Hilton next month. The new hotel will open by next Spring Festival.

 

Society

Hazardous chemicals to be removed from island
危险化学品不能呆岛内了
Local authorities have recently revealed its intention to relocate the remaining few chemical manufacturers from the island. From now on, no new chemical manufacturers will be allowed on the island. The city government also plans to build a specialized warehouse for hazardous chemicals, which will be put into operation in one or two years as storage of chemicals for the island.

Fushan roundabout renovation to kick off after May Day holiday
富山转盘"五一"后改造
The renovation project of Fushan roundabout will kick off after the week-long May Day holiday. The project, scheduled for completion in one month with a total investment of RMB 5.48 million, will increase the existing traffic flow of 9,000 vehicles per hour to 14,000 vehicles per hour.

Singapore visa processed in one workday
到新加坡签证仅一个工作日
Singapore Immigration && Registration (SIR), in conjunction with Singapore Tourism Board (STB), will offer expedited visa services for permanent residents in 13 Chinese cities (including Xiamen) which have direct flights to and from Singapore or frequent exchanges with Singapore. Visas may be issued in one workday if all required documents have been properly submitted.

Join hands with South Korean cosmetic surgery experts
与韩国美容专家合作
Xiamen-based No. 174 Hospital has recently opened the largest cosmetic surgery center in South Fujian and signed a co-operation agreement with South Korean experts in this field.

150 Internet cafés to turn away minors
150家网吧谢绝未成年人
Owners of 20 Internet cafés have recently, on behalf of the city's 150 Internet café owners, called for strict compliance with The Ordinance on the Management of Internet Access Service Establishments, under which minors will be turned away in order to create a nurturing social environment for the healthy growth of minors.

Experts teach methods of Hengtai RGP
专家传授隐形眼镜新技术
"Hengtai RGP Technology Seminar" was held at the Zhongshan Hospital on April 26, which was co-organized by the American Polymer Technology Corporation, Taiwan Hengtai Optical Co., Ltd and Nanpeng Keshi Co., Ltd. Doctors in the field from all over Fujian Province participated in the seminar. It has been proven by clinical tests that Hengtai RGP, which is a kind of contact lens, is well fit for Asian people to wear.

Beware of Malaysia employment scam
当心马来西亚打工骗局
Recently, 126 Chinese laborers who had been lured abroad returned to China through Fuzhou Changle Airport. They came from 11 provinces and municipalities, including Fujian, Liaoning and Jiangsu, and arrived in Malaysia with tourist visas in 2003. They had illegally stayed in Malaysia after their visas expired without work permits promised before their departure from China.

 

Photo by Yao Fan
The "QOO Cup(酷儿杯)" Xiamen English Speaking Competition for Elementary School Students drew to an end on April 25 at the Xiamen Children's Palace. More than 600 participants entered the semi-final and 16 got top prizes.

A top prize winner was giving an English talk show.