Fair Has Tightest Security in History
AUTHORITIES in southern China's Guangdong Province opened the 103rd China Import and Export Fair (also known as the Canton Fair) yesterday amid tightened security checks, the Yangcheng Evening News reported.
All domestic exhibitors at this year's Canton Fair in the province's capital city of Guangzhou were checked for a criminal record, the first time such a requirement has been put in place in the fair's 51-year history.
People were also required to take security checks, similar to those at airports, when entering the exhibition hall.
The move was made due to a "special situation" for this year's fair, said fair spokesman Xu Bin. Xu did not reveal what the "special situation" was.
The fair canceled all scheduled seminars due to security concerns. More than 300,000 businessmen are expected to attend the fair, including nearly 200,000 from 210 foreign countries and regions.
Communities with 200+ Foreigners Set up Service Stations
As more and more foreigners live, work and do business in Guangzhou, the government strengthens and broadens management and services for expats.
Communities which accommodate over 200 foreigners will set up service stations, collect information and offer help, according to the regulations for immigration management.
This step has been taken to effectively standardize the management of foreigners in employment and residence.
According to statistics, there are 22,000 foreigners living in Guangzhou and over 50 communities with over 200 foreigner residents.
Guangzhou Intends to Restrict Pedi-cabs
Following the prohibition of motorcycles in the Guangzhou central urban districts, Guangzhou intends to restrict non-motorized vehicles such as pedi-cabs and handcarts on certain roads.
A person in charge of the Guangzhou Traffic Police Department says that the lack of related legal basis has caused the disorderly management of non-motorized vehicles such as pedi-cabs, bicycles, and handcarts, since there are neither provisions on the mandatory registration of non-motorized vehicles in the Law of the People's Republic of China on Road Traffic Safety which became effective on May 1st, 2004, nor specific provisions on such issues in the Guangdong Road Traffic Safety Regulations.
Since the complete prohibition of motorcycles in the Guangzhou central urban districts on January 1st, 2007, rickshaws, handcarts, and pedi-cabs have appeared on many roads to cause a series of traffic safety problems. They have exacerbated the situation between people, vehicles, and road by reducing the traffic capacity of the road, increasing the potential safety issues, and causing injuries and deaths in traffic accidents.
In 2007, non-motorized vehicles caused 1,454 accidents in total including 141 deaths and 1,558 injuries.
Guangzhou Traffic Police Department would ask the public for comments on the restriction of pedi-cabs and provide questionnaires on the Internet as well.
Government Claims Improvement in GZ’s Tap Water
According to a government report released by Guangzhou government, the quality of the environment in Guangzhou has improved. 8.13% more tap water in Guangzhou reached the national tap water standard. The report also claims that air pollution has been decreasing for the past 3 years.
In order to have a better source for tap water supplies, Guangzhou will introduce water from the Xijiang River.
Guangzhou will accelerate the construction of the Xijiang River Water Introduction Project, so that Guangzhou citizens can drink water from Xijiang in 2010.
(编辑： sky )