Shanghai Provides APEC Complete SafetyFestive serenity reigns in Shanghai these days as people go as usual about their errand with an orderly happy life presented. To guarantee the successful holding of the APEC meeting, a public force over 10,000 strong has been organized and called into duty with complete safety provided. Security tightened centers around the venue of the APEC meeting located in the New District of Pudong, Shanghai. The gravity falls naturally on the Shanghai International Convention Center and surrounding areas with a strong "defense line" built, tight and with no loopholes found. All men and every admission ticket, handset, newsmen's cameras and beverages have to be scrutinized under the gaze of an acute security eye. At 6 a.m. yesterday morning, newsmen were all seen turned up at the International News Center, which is merely about 100 feet away from the Shanghai Convention Center to take safety inspection in advance. Every nook and cranny seems to have be pried into and shown up under full X-ray glare, with every camera, handset, recorder and projectors included, and these have to be put to test use either calling on line, opened, or replayed on the spot. Beverage makes no difference as well. A newsman had been asked to sip a mouthful of this from his Coke can, said to be a measure to guard against liquid bomb attack. After completion of safety inspection, the newsmen were led onto a large bus and in two minutes they a-lit at the Convention Center. Same checkups were conducted. The only difference is that the newsmen with their press cards have to be scanned, identified and verified by no man but intelligent machine. In the end there leave an only safety exit for the newsmen to be checked out after fulfilling their assignment of coverage, prior to releasing their news reporting. Irrespective of a whole nitty-gritty process no complaints had been heard of the checkups. Since October 1, "electronic eyes" have been an indispensable part of the whole security system in five-star hotels such as Pudong Shangri-La and related public grounds in Shanghai and this has even been strictly implemented nearly at a level boarding a plane. Behind all the security measures, it goes with no doubt, is a demanding plan for guaranteeing the safety of the APEC meeting having been worked out by related municipal security departments of Shanghai. There is absolutely no room for terrorists to manoeuvre for their accursed terrorist crimes in name-brand restaurants as these already have had their parking lots closed to all unpredictable risks. As a part of these, "electronic eyes" have been fixed into every possible large entrance and exits amidst a sundry of other security device and equipment installed in the way all passages are closely watched and complete safety guaranteed. An unprecedented large number of special planes are expected to fly into Shanghai with the holding of the APEC meeting. Tightened control and unified management have been enforced over the city's two airports by concerned authorities under a special security committee. Following a complete set of operational rules, precautionary exercises have even conducted to make all supportive work with regard to the fight against landing, firefight, normal operation of systems and evacuation of tourists a complete success. On the Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai one can see every now and then small mobile guards on patrol. Shanghai has already had its Pudong Airport closed off to all unapproved flights and there have been added over 300,000 square meters of parking apron in order that 22 large-size special planes can be accommodated, as the first large airport to greet 15 foreign leaders of state from abroad. By People's Daily Online |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |