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China Daily
Ministry pledges more assistance for flood victims


THE Ministry of Civil Affairs is set to participate more vigorously in providing welfare for the needy, including flood victims, the disabled and the poor, Minister Doje Cering pledged yesterday in Beijing.
Speaking at a televised work conference, the minister praised civil affairs bureaux at all levels for their contributions and great achievements last year, especially their disaster-relief efforts during last summer's floods.

"I am very pleased that all our units did such an excellent job in last year's disaster-relief work, and helped those affected by the floods to keep their losses to a minimum," he said.
Tens of thousands of civil affairs officials risked their lives rushing to the most dangerous flood-hit areas in the largest rescue campaign organized in China in the past five decades, he said.

With their help, he added, more than 20 million flood victims were adequately relocated after the worst floods in decades swept through vast areas along the Yangtze River and Northeast China from June to September.
The ministry called for donations across the country, raising more than 7.26 billion yuan (US$874 million) in cash and collecting 100 million yuan (US$12 million) worth of clothing, the biggest amount of disaster-relief donations achieved to date.

"Our efforts made a critical contribution to ensuring living standards for refugees and maintaining the stability of society," he said.
The experience derived from the rescue efforts will enhance civil affairs officials' capability in coping with natural disasters in the future, the minister said.

Turning to grass-roots democracy, which comes under the ministry's responsibility, the minister said the scope of such democracy will be extended to ensure people directly exercise their democratic rights and manage their own affairs according to the law.
This will be effected by regulating the direct election of village committees in rural areas and neighbourhood committees in urban areas, he said.

He called on officials to cling to the three principles of fairness, justice and transparency to serve the people better.
Doje Cering was confident his ministry would continue to play a key role in the socialization of China's welfare undertakings.

Particular attention is to be paid to welfare services for an ever-increasing number of senior citizens, more than 60 million disabled people and other groups of urban and rural poor, he said.

Date: 01/07/99
Author: Jiang Jingen

Chinadaily:
HK to widen co-operation in infrastructure projects


HONG KONG _ The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) is aiming to expand co-operation in infrastructure construction with the mainland and other Asia-Pacific countries and regions.
It will also invest US$30 billion in major highway, rail, property, housing, port development and numerous other smaller projects in the next five years to improve the territory's international competitiveness.

The sum to be spent is 50 per cent more than that invested in the new international airport and its nine supporting bridge and highway projects.
SAR Finance Secretary Donald Tsang announced the plan yesterday at the opening ceremony of the Senior Official-Level Meeting of the Third Ministers' Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Since its inaugural meeting in Japan in 1995, the forum has gone a long way in promoting the sharing of ideas and experience on infrastructure development in the Asia-Pacific Region.

"We stand ready to share our experiences with neighbouring Asia-Pacific economies, to discuss problems, analyze issues and explore options in forums like this," Tsang said.
"We will strive to promote co-operation with member economies through mutual visits, regular discussions, joint research projects and the exchange of technological information and findings," he added.

Hong Kong has accumulated a tremendous amount of knowledge and technological expertise in the planning, design, construction and management of major infrastructure projects and has successfully involved local and overseas participation in recent years, Tsang said.
"Efficient and reliable infrastructure _ ports, highways, railways, power plants and water treatment facilities _ will always be a key factor in the success of any economy," he said.
Hong Kong is now constructing and planning the construction of several infrastructure projects linking the region to neighbouring Guangdong Province.

These projects include bridges, highways, railways, ports and deep-water channels for the benefit of both areas.
To help raise the large sum required for investment in infrastructure construction in the future, Hong Kong will seek new ways to attract private sector funding and maximize available resources in the community, Tsang said.

Private sector participation in urban infrastructure and services is essential if sustainable and efficient urban development is to be attained, he said.

Date: 01/07/99
Author: Zheng Caixiong

China Radio International
Guangdong Anticipates 1999 GDP Growth


South China's Guangdong Province is anticipating 8.5 percent growth in GDP for 1999.
Governor Lu Ruihua made the announcement on Wednesday.

The province has placed priority on coordinating economic development and increasing profits, as well as on expanding the efforts needed for restructuring and administration.

Analysts estimate that Guangdong's 1998 GDP will hit nearly 794 billion yuan, up 10.1 percent from the previous year.