Headmasters meet
中外校长论坛
Photo by Yao Fan



Supported by the Middle School Headmaster Training Center of the National Ministry of Education and organised by Xiamen Yingcai Middle School, the World Headmaster Forum took place on December 18 and 19 at the Xiamen Airport Hotel. Pictured are headteachers attending a forum on role of headmasters in setting the curriculum and teaching.

 

 

Economics

60 industries opened to private investment
60行业对社会资本开放
A number of industries and projects which have until now been run by state monoplies are now open to investment by private citizens. The 2006 Project and Capital Matchmaking Symposium, scheduled to begin at 9:00am, December 22, will present projects in 60 industries and 15 sectors to private investors. More information about the investment opportunities is available at the Xiamen Development and Reform Commission's website www.xmdpc.gov.cn.

High-tech production rises 20%
高新技术产值增两成
The city's high-tech industries are expected to register a total production of RMB 129.127 billion for this year, jumping 20% on last year. The electronic information industry will post a turnover of RMB 74 billion, making it the biggest industry in Xiamen.

Foreign flat-screen TV prices drop
洋平板电视降价
A few foreign brands, including Panasonic, Sony, Samsung and Philips, have recently cut their retail prices for several models of flat-screen televisions. With discounts of up to 30%, a price war over TVs is predicted for the upcoming year. However, domestic brands have not followed suit and cut prices.

Anderson franchise locked in dispute
安德鲁森加盟店起纷争
Anderson, a bakery chain with 40-plus directly owned outlets and 50-plus franchises in Xiamen, has been caught up in a dispute over a planned large increase in franchising fees. Negotiations between the chain and some franchise holders have reached an impasse, which may result in the closure of some shops.

 

 

Society

Cold fronts to hit around Christmas
圣诞节前后寒流滚滚
Low temperatures have persisted as successive waves of cold air have hit Xiamen. New cold fronts will reach the city around December 22, which may drive the temperature even lower. The cold weather will persist until Christmas Day, December 25.

Universities receive financial aid for research projects
高校科技项目获资助
A total of 32 research projects at Xiamen University, Jimei University and the Xiamen University of Technology will share RMB 3.5 million financial aid from the city's science and technology fund. The 32 projects were chosen from among more than 100 applications from universities in 2004, after a stringent screening process. They reflect the universities' research strengths.

Unlicensed photographers to be prosecuted
鼓浪屿开始捉"野照"
The Gulangyu Integrated Administrative Law Enforcement Squad has recently launched a raid on unlicensed photographers on the islet. Most of the 50 unlicensed photographers are living in rented houses on the islet. If caught, they will face confiscation of their cameras, a fine of RMB 50, and the mandatory publication of an apology in the local newspaper.

RMB 1 billion earmarked for garbage disposal
拟花10亿元对付垃圾
Local authorities will spend more than RMB 1 billion on building new waste disposal facilities, including three solid waste disposal centers. The new centers will provide integrated disposal of urban and rural garbage, as the government aims to make 95% of domestic waste harmless to the environment.

9 drivers permanently disqualified from driving
今年9人被终身禁驾
So far this year, nine local drivers have permanently forfeited their rights to drive a motor vehicle. They have been permanently disqualified from driving and prosecuted for criminal liability as they fled the scene after committing traffic offenses which resulted in deaths.

Philanthropy Supermarket to issue student aid cards
"博爱超市"发放助学卡
The Philanthropy Supermarket recently issued student aid cards to 613 students from poverty-stricken families in 19 local schools. Each card entitles the student to RMB 150 worth of needed commodities for free.

Customs building equipped with new clock
海关新钟上岗
A new clock, with GPS satellite time-checking and zero accumulated error, has been installed on the clock tower of Xiamen Customs in place of the old one, which has been out of order for some time. The new clock plays the song "Waves of Gulangyu" every hour on the hour.

Children's Protection Center planned
筹建流浪儿童保护中心
In a bid to help homeless minors under the age of 18, local authorities are preparing to build a Children's Protection Center. The Center, scheduled for completion before the coming Chinese New Year, will be run like a real family home and will recruit dedicated educators.

 

 

City News
Edited by Lily

Beijing 北京

Residents unhappy with traffic
市民不满意交通状况
Beijingers will become more and more dissatisfied with the urban traffic situation in the coming five years, despite the plan to increase the capacity of the road networks by 30% over that period. Beijing has suffered from severe traffic jams in the past two years, especially on the second and fourth ring roads. The number of motor vehicles on the road has risen by 1.36 million in the past three years. Beijing will have 2.59 million motor vehicles by the end of this year. The city will go on giving priority to public transport, including buses and trams.

1st TV station opened for inmate education
首个监犯再教育电视开播
The Beijing Prison Administration has opened a TV station for prisoners, the first of its kind in China, with programs dedicated to the education of inmates. The TV station was originally designed to give inmates quick access to events inside the jail, but it also helps them to keep abreast of the changes outside. This will be a great help to them when they have finished their terms.

House prices keep rising
房价持续上扬
Residential housing within fourth ring road has undergone a marked price increase in 2005. It is predicted that in 2006 there will be fewer new residential houses built within the fourth ring road as land becomes restricted. Future new houses will be concentrated mainly in the suburbs, especially the east fourth and fifth ring roads areas. The second-hand housing market is expected to mitigate the effects of rising house prices in the coming year.

Shanghai 上海

Heart maker to open office
人造心脏有望降价
A Sino-Germany medical appliance company that is doing research and development on artificial hearts has signed a contract to set up an office in a Shanghai medical industrial park. The firm will manufacture advanced medical equipment at a price that Chinese patients can afford. Shanghai Jiao Tong University's school of medicine also plans to establish a medical technology college at the base, to teach nursing professionals and medical technicians.

Teen girls eye executive jobs
年轻女孩青睐行政白领
Teenage girls in Shanghai want to rule the boardroom, while their peers in Japan would prefer to be leaders in the classroom or living room, a recent survey suggests. The five most desired professions for Chinese girls are teacher, president or CEO, designer, mass communications related jobs and senior managers. The Japanese teens would like to become child-care workers or teachers, doctors, flight attendants or housewives.

1st folk costume museum opened
首个民族服饰博物馆开展
After two years of preparation, China's first folk costume museum has opened in Shanghai. The museum displays more than 5,000 pieces of rare clothing including imperial robes, silk garments and the traditional costumes of more than 30 Chinese ethnic groups. The museum's most treasured possessions are a collection of manuscripts on changes in China's dress habits by Shen Congwen, the renowned late Chinese author.

Male nurses in demand
男护士职场走俏
During a recent job fair in Shanghai, 16 male nursing students quickly signed contracts with several first-rate hospitals, in stark contrast with most graduates, who were queuing up at booths trying to make their resumes appealing to employers. Male nurses have become precious resources in China's nursing industry, which has been dominated by women throughout its hundred year history.

Guangzhou 广州

First lunar new year flower market planned
天河第一个新年花市待展
Guangzhou's Tianhe district plans to hold its first annual Chinese Lunar New Year flower market in Tianhe Stadium. The flower market will be open for three days, from 8am to midnight on January 26 and 27 and 8am to 2am on January 28. To attract visitors, Tianhe's flower market will include the latest flowers and fruits from some large flower companies, botanical research institutes and well-known garden centers.

Karaoke intellectual property to be protected
卡拉OK产权将受保护
Guangzhou will launch a karaoke intellectual property protection system, which is designed to protect the rights of singers whose video and DVD products are played in karaoke clubs. Once the system is installed, consumers will have to pay fees calculated according to the number of songs that they sing. This move heralds the end of free karaoke video and DVD consumption. However, use of the system will be optional for karaoke clubs.

Lowest metro fare plan preferred
地铁最低费用设定
Most of the representatives attending the hearing on proposed changes to Guangzhou's Metro fares preferred the lowest pricing plan, which had 4 yuan as the base fare covering 5 to 6 kilometers instead of the original four kilometers. They suggested that the metro company raise the maximum height limit for free children's tickets from 1.1 meters to 1.2 meters, and offers free tickets to the disabled, as well as discounted rates for off-peak journeys on some parts of the system.

Defaulters listed
无良雇主将被曝光
Guangzhou city government will blacklist the companies that owe back wages or illegally force workers to work overtime. Measures include setting up a hotline for complaints about unpaid wages and a task force to investigate back wages. The rule stipulates that workers and their employers should specify wages and working hours, including overtime work. The pay levels must not be less than the minimum wages required by local regulations.

Chongqing 重庆

Sales of fireworks to juveniles banned
禁止向青少年出售烟花爆竹
Firework and firecracker vendors have been banned from selling their products to minors under the age of 14 in Chongqing. Offenders will be fined 50 to 100 yuan (6.25 to 12.5 US dollars). The legislators reminded citizens not to keep more than 10 kg of fireworks and firecrackers in the house, which is also forbidden under the new regulations. The new rules came after the city's lifting of the ban on setting off fireworks and firecrackers during the period of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

First southwest high-speed access to the sea
西南首条贯海高速路将开通
The Chongqing-Zhanjiang Expressway, the first high-speed access route to the sea for Chongqing, will be opened to traffic on December 26. It will take only 13 hours to drive from Chongqing to Zhanjiang, in Guangdong Province. The route will be upgraded to a full expressway along its whole length in 2007.

1, 000-year-old tree
发现千年古树"女真子"
A fructus ligustri lucidi(glossy privet) tree has been found recently in Shizhu County in Chongqing. Experts have examined the tree, which is 30 meters in height and 2 meters in circumference, and have concluded that it has been growing for 1,000 years.



Hong Kong 香港

Gambling rates remain stable
赌博活动得到控制
Both the overall rate of participation in gambling activities and the overall percentage of problem and pathological gamblers have remained stable in Hong Kong in recent years. Among young people who have bet money, more than half of them had their first experience of gambling at the age of 12 or under.

Taipei 台北

Government troubles the youth
施政方略令年轻人迷惑
The results of a recent survey show that Taiwan's youth are most anxious about the way in which the government is running the region at present. The top five factors causing anxiety among the Taiwanese youth are social problems, their future personal development, the school environment, family issues and how the government runs the region.


Vocabulary
monopoly 垄断
franchise 连锁
philanthropy 博爱
mandatory 强制性的
inmate 监犯
artificial 人造的
manuscript 手稿
dominate 主导
hearing 听证会
defaulter 违约者