Fries released
3500万鱼虾苗放归大海
Photo by Yao Fan



On the morning of August 14, Xiamen Ocean Fisheries Bureau released more than 35 million fish and shrimp fries into Xiamen seawaters. This is the second year that Xiamen has released fries into the sea to boost breeding. This move is aimed at restoring the biodiversity of the ocean and strengthening ecological restoration.

 

 

Economics

Xiamen buses become part of the presidential fleet
厦门客车开进总统府
A shipment of six passenger buses manufactured by the Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co Ltd, worth USD 680,000, has recently received the export permit from the United Arab Emirates. It's reported that the buses are intended for use by the republic guards of the UAE. This is the second export of Xiamen-built buses to the presidential palace of a Middle East nation following the shipment of 20 buses from the Xiamen Golden Dragon Van Co Ltd to Yemen in May for service with the presidential fleet.

Cheer for the Olympics
关注奥运赢手机
On August 14, a show was going on at the SM City Plaza, kicking off a 34-day long event of "Lenovo mobile-170 storm", which was co-held by Lenovo and the City Trend Fitness Center. Over 100 audience members, who participated in the arobics and street dance performances got mobile phones as a reward. This activity was to celebrate the opening of the Athens Olympics and the good performances of the Chinese athletes.

 

 

Society

Coca-Cola launches Olympic commemorative bottles
可口可乐推出奥运纪念瓶
In celebration of the ongoing Olympic Games in Athens, Coca-Cola Company, with the authorization of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, recently launched a limited quantity of a set of six different commemorative bottles of the "China Olympic Champions' Chart" for private collectors. In Fujian Province, the limited production of 500 cases will be distributed in Xiamen only.

All counties to be included in expressway network by 2017
2017年我省县县通高速
The provincial Department of Transportation announces that by 2017, all counties in Fujian Province will be covered by the expressway network, totaling 3,234 km in length. From this year onwards, a new expressway will be opened to traffic each year.

Cross-strait marriages exceed 200,000
两岸配偶突破20万对
Marriage across the Taiwan Strait has been a steadily rising trend. The latest statistics indicate the number of mainland spouses for Taiwanese residents has exceeded 200,000. In terms of the over 39,000 marriages last year, on average, each month more than 3,000 mainlanders tied marital knots with Taiwanese.

Drunk bicycle riding banned
酒后也不准骑自行车
From now on, people will be banned from riding on a bicycle as well as from driving a motor vehicle after drinking. Provincial authorities will start implementing national standards for the measuring of alcohol content of drivers of vehicles, with drivers of non-motorized vehicles included in the scope of examination.

120 senior citizens' eyesight restored this year
120位老人年内重见光明
Seven cataract-suffering senior citizens from Guankou Township, Jimei District have recently received physical examinations for eye operations at the Ophthalmology Department of Xiamen Boai Recuperation Center, signifying the official kickoff of Xiamen's 2004 "Eyesight Restoration Project." This project, which has been going on in Xiamen for over four years with over RMB 2 million in funds, will benefit 120 elderly patients suffering from cataract this year.

Fare-reduced air-conditioned buses become favorites of local residents
降价竞争令空调车成新宠
Xiamen Public Transportation Company has recently put all of its newly-purchased 42 brand new air-conditioned buses into service, which represents a major move of the company to provide air-con vehicles on a massive scale following its reduction of air-con bus fares to one yuan. With the rising intra-city transportation needs of local residents, the Public Transportation Company has quickened its pace of the replacement of air-con buses in a bid to maintain its competitive edge in the passenger transportation market.

New recruits must have certificates
新招工人须持证
Shop assistants and waiters will be required to hold professional qualification certificates. From the present day until September 10, the local labor protection authority will conduct a dedicated inspection on the employers' implementation of professional qualifications for new employees.

 

 

Education

Xiamen to launch "community with zero crime rate among minors"
创建"未成年人零犯罪社区"
In a bid to create "communities with a zero crime rate among minors," Xiamen will select a number of local communities for the establishment and implementation of the idle youth management information system to strengthen the correction and education of juvenile delinquents.

Chinese Immersion Course concluded
英国学生汉语夏令营结束
On August 5th, the closing ceremony of the Chinese Immersion Course, co-sponsored by China Mobile Xiamen, was held in the BBQ Camp outside the International Conference & Exhibition Center of Xiamen. This course, sponsored by the Cultural and Educational Council of the British Embassy , was meant to promote the cultural exchanges between China and Britain. During the three-week summer course the 37 English students have covered a range of classes including calligraphy, Tai Chi and Chinese cooking.