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Artistic exhibit You can visit Michelangelo’s David at the Bird’s Nest LIFE, PAGE 18

Flooding in Jilin kills at least 18

On overdrive

CHINA, PAGE 4

WORLD, PAGE 12

Women from Mexican region win long-distance races

TUESDAY, July 18, 2017

chinadailyasia.com

GDP data show continued expansion Xi calls for

a more open economy

By XIN ZHIMING and WANG YANFEI

China’s economy expanded at a faster-than-expected 6.9 percent year-on-year in the second quarter and economists said the trend of stable growth is set to continue into the second half of 2017, paving the way for the country to strengthen reforms. The economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, was unchanged from the first quarter and has remained in the 6.7 to 6.9 percent range for eight consecutive months, according to data released on Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics. GDP growth accelerated to 1.7 percent in the second Inside quarter, up from 1.3 percent in the Editorial > first quarter. p9 Key indicators, such as industrial output, retail sales and fixed-asset investment, all were at high levels in the second quarter, the NBS said. Real estate investment, a key driving force of growth, increased by 8.5 percent in the first half of this year, slightly down from the first quarter. “Real estate investment, together with infrastructure investment, remained brisk and contributed to the strong growth in the second quarter,” said Yu Yongding, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The economic structure also has improved, according to NBS data. For example, investment in high-tech manufacturing industries grew by 21.5 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year, 12.9

President says new laws needed to make foreign investment easier By ZHANG YUNBI zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn

GDP

INDUSTRIAL

INVESTMENT

REAL ESTATE

RETAIL

CPI

PPI

Gross domestic product growth

Industrial output growth

Fixed-asset investment*

Real estate investment*

Retail sales growth

Consumer price index

Producer price index

(Unit: percent change year-on-year) 8 6.9%

(Unit: percent change year-on-year) 7.6% 8

(Unit: percent change year-on-year) 8.6% 10

(Unit: percent change year-on-year) 10 8.5%

(Unit: percent change year-on-year) 3

(Unit: percent change year-on-year) 5.5% 8

(Unit: percent change year-on-year) 15 11%

Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q2 Q4 Q2 Q4 Q2 ’15 ’16 ’17

A O D M M S N J-F A J 2016 2017

A O D M M S N F A J 2016 2017

1.5%

6 4

A O D M M S N F A J 2016 2017

A O D M M S N J-F A J 2016 2017

2 0 A O D M M S N J-F A J 2016 2017

A O D M M S N J-F A J 2016 2017

* Each month includes cumulative data from previous months of the year. Source: China Daily

percentage points higher than overall investment growth. The crucial job market, meanwhile, remained stable, with 7.35 million jobs created in urban areas in the first half of this year, 180,000 more than a year earlier, according to the NBS. Looking ahead, China’s economic growth may ease moderately, mainly due to slowing

CHINA DAILY

growth expected in real estate investment thanks to the country’s tightening of price control policies, but it faces much less pressure to grow, analysts said. “The economy may continue to fluctuate a little bit, but there would not be sharp declines, and China does not face any risk of a hard landing,” said Yu of CASS, who also

is former member of the monetary policy committee of the People’s Bank of China, the central bank. China’s whole-year growth this year may reach 6.7 percent, meaning it will meet its target of “around 6.5 percent”, according to forecasts by some institutions, such as the China Center for International Economic Exchanges and investment

bank ICBC International. “China’s pressure from growth stabilization has eased greatly and it will pay way for its macroeconomic maneuvers to upgrade its economic structure and contain risks,” said Cheng Shi, chief economist at ICBC International. Contact the writers at xinzhiming@chinadaily.com.cn

CPC documentary examines reforms ahead of congress By AN BAIJIE anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn

China started to air a 10-episode political documentary on Monday on State media to showcase the progress achieved by the Communist Party of China during the past five years amid its ongoing efforts to comprehensively deepen reform. The CPC Central Committee organized the filming of the documentary, carrying the reform through to the end. The first episode was broadcast on the China Central Television and its new media outlets on Monday evening. Topics of the documentary

series include the economy, politics, social management, Chinese culture, environment, the armed forces and the Party’s self-governance. The documentary highlighted President Xi Jinping’s important speeches and his new thoughts on the governance of China. It focuses on the achievements made by the CPC in deepening reforms since the Party’s 18th National Congress in November 2012. Xi was elected as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee at the first Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. The CPC is going to hold its 19th National Congress later this year. Analysts said the

Deliveries may be sped up Policy review, p7

A member of the Asia News Network

Group for Deepening Overall Reform, established in late 2013. The group has had 36 meetings so far to discuss a wide range of issues, including poverty alleviation, healthcare, employment and education, all aimed at improving people’s lives. Zhang Zhuoyuan, a senior economic researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the public has high expectations from the Central Leading Group because China’s reforms have entered the “deep water zone”, which needs more of a push from the top leadership. Zhu Lijia, a professor of public administration at the Chinese Academy of Governance,

said that by broadcasting the political documentary the CPC has sent a signal that comprehensively deepening reforms will continue to be the main task of the Party in the coming years. “In the past, China’s reform mainly focused on the economic area. The reform has become more comprehensive since the Party’s 18th National Congress, covering all areas with institutional building,” he said. The CPC faces lots of uncertainties and challenges, both domestically and internationally, he said, adding that only through deepening reform will the Party resolve the problems successfully.

See Xi, page 3

Dauntless in downpour

Young people put on brave faces as rain pours down at the opening ceremony of 13th Hong Kong Youth Military Summer Camp at the San Wai Barracks of the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison on Monday. The summer camp will last for 15 days. ROY LIU / CHINA DAILY

TCM tourism attracts 3 convicted of rioting during Mong Kok unrest Russians to Hainan By WILLA WU in Hong Kong willa@chinadailyhk.com

INSIDE

political documentary will be helpful to make the congress a success, as it could encourage the whole Party and the public to make continuous efforts to deepen reforms and strive for the realization of the Chinese dream of a great rejuvenation of the nation. Since Xi became general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, reform has emerged as a hallmark of his administration. His first trip outside Beijing as the general secretary was to Guangdong province in late 2012, which has been at the forefront of China’s decadeslong reform and opening-up drive. XiheadedtheCentralLeading

China should create a steady, fair and transparent corporate environment and gear up efforts to shape an open economy, President Xi Jinping said. Xi made the statement at the 16th meeting of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs on Monday. The country needs to further tap into foreign investment when it is unfolding supply-sidestructuralreforms, upgrading its economy and catching up with the global developments in science and technology, he noted. China should accelerate its easing of entry restrictions and share ratio limitations on foreign investment in areas such as nursery and elder care, architecture, accounting, commerce and logistics, e-commerce and the traditional manufacturing and service sectors, Xi said. Xi said it is hoped the second-largest world economy can use foreign investment negative lists nationwide as soon as possible.

The lists — which identify industries that are closed to overseas investors and make commerce more transparent — have been piloted in some of China’s free trade zones. China should stipulate new fundamental laws regarding foreign investment; review laws, regulations policies and documents regarding foreign investment; and abolish or revise those running against the country’s goal of opening up, Xi said. Speaking about China’s foreign trade, Xi said the country should proactively expand imports when stabilizing its exports. The government should look into lowering tariffs of certain consumer goods and encourage the imports of commodities that offer strong features and advantages. China should further facilitate free and liberal trade and effectively address problems such as the high cost of imports brought by the existing systems, the complicated procedures for quarantine and customs clearance and the trouble in lodging complaints,

The District Court on Monday found three more people guilty of rioting during the Mong Kok unrest that erupted on the Chinese New Year day last year. The three — Chris Yung Tsz-hin, 18, Law Ho-yin, 20 and Lin Yun-faat, 26 — were the second group of suspects convicted of rioting in relation to the violent unrest. They were remanded in custody pending sentencing. Passing down his verdict, judge Frankie Yiu Fun-che said the scene at the riot was “rather shocking” as over a 100 people, some with masks on, threw bricks and hurled bamboo sticks. Yiu described such behavior as “threatening” and “provocative”, which without doubt sabotaged social stability.

Yiu held that Yung and Law were the two who were filmed holding glass bottles near the crowd in the riot, as the pair wore the same shirts, trousers and sneakers when they were caught. Meanwhile, Yiu said Lin was “undoubtedly” participating in the riot as Lin was captured in video footage in which he was among the other protesters in a standoff that night. The court will hear mitigation submissions on Aug 7 before passing down sentences on the trio. According to the Public Order Ordinance, rioting carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. But the District Court is limited to passing down a maximum 7-year jail term. Members of the first group — including two college students and one cook — found

The scene at the Mong Kok riot was rather shocking”. Frankie Yiu Fun-che, District Court judge

guilty of rioting were sentenced to three-year prison terms in March this year. In April, a 32-year-old technician Yeung Ka-lun was sentenced to a four-year-ninemonth jail term for rioting and arson. The court on Monday acquitted two — Leo Chan Siu-kwan and Sung Kwan-wo — who had each faced one count of rioting.

The riot, which hit the popular Hong Kong tourist spot of Mong Kok hours after the Lunar New Year festivities began, saw protesters throw bricks and set fire to public facilities, leaving around 100 police officers and at least four reporters injured. The police have so far arrested 90 people — 79 men and 11 women — in connection with the riot. They face charges ranging from rioting to arson and illegal assembly to assaulting and resisting police officers. To date, nine have been convicted. In April this year, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung said one of the Department of Justice’s major focuses in the next year lay in facilitating criminal prosecutions related to the Mong Kok riot and the illegal “Occupy Central” movement which took place in 2014.

By MA ZHIPING in Sanya, Hainan mazhiping@chinadaily.com.cn

Nina Kudryavceva of St. Petersburg, Russia, has stayed in Sanya for one or two months every year for the past decade, traveling around as well as having a routine medical checkup and treatment at a local hospital. “Traditional Chinese medicine works wonders, and we feel much better after each treatment. We also enjoy the local life and culture very much,’’ said Kudryavceva, now on vacation with her husband, Alexey Kudryavcev, in the tropical Hainan province. Kudryavceva, 68, and Kudryavcev, 72, look energetic and much younger than their ages, for which they attribute partly to the TCM healthcare functions. Saren, director of the acupuncture department at the Sanya TCM Hospital, is

known as “China Mom” to about 20 Russian children who were victims of the Russia Beslan School hostage crisis in 2004 and recovered after TCM treatments in Sanya in 2006 and 2008. “Many of the kids, so impressed by their experience in Sanya, said they would like to learn TCM skills and culture when they grow up,” said Saren, a doctor from the Mongolian ethnic group and a graduate of Beijing TCM University. With more than 30 years of experience, she is one of the few Chinese doctors in Sanya who have impressed top leaders of other countries with their effective TCM treatments. While indulging in the sunshine, golden beaches and the tropical features of Sanya, on the southern tip of Hainan island, more overseas tourists See Sanya, page 5

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

CH I NA DAI LY H O NG KO N G EDI TI O N

PAGE TWO Candid camera: Swallows and dragons

Looking ahead Events and stories coming up in the next few days

Gansu court to hear case of alleged serial killer Gao

CAAC to release details on Beijing airport construction

On Tuesday, the Intermediate People’s Court in Baiyin, Gansu province, will hear the case of suspected serial killer Gao Chengyong. The 52-year-old is accused of killing 11 people in the province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region from May 1988 to February 2002, according to the Ministry of Public Security. His youngest alleged victim was an 8-year-old girl. The hearing will not be open to the public to protect the privacy of the victims.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China will hold a media briefing in Beijing on Tuesday on the construction of the city’s new international airport. Officials will also reveal the steps they are taking to guarantee flight safety during bad weather.

Japanese movie Midnight Canteen 2 to debut Tuesday

Hangzhou summit to focus on cities’ credit development The first Summit on Credit City Development in China will be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The theme of the event is “Credit Makes Cities Smart and Life Better”. In 2014, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, issued an guideline to build a national social credit system to assess individuals and government agencies by 2020.

The highly-anticipated Japanese film Midnight Canteen 2 will hit Chinese theaters on Tuesday. Ever since the debut of the TV version of Midnight Canteen in 2009, the touching stories in the series have attracted a large fan base in China. Many viewers say that the series has a huge healing power for people living in a fast-paced and pressured modern society. Swallows fly around a tower in Xi’an, Shaanxi province.

ZHANG YUMING / FOR CHINA DAILY

On chinadaily.com.cn Visit for breaking news and exclusive content

Video: The villager who paints Mediterranean landscapes Chen Lin lives in the village of Dafen in Guangdong province, but she’s making a living painting Mediterranean landscapes. Visit our website to see the artist at work.

Canadian icon misses the Chinese coffee rush

na, were forced to work at Japanese army brothels across the region during the war.

During her first trade mission to China in 2014, the premier of Canada’s Ontario province bemoaned the absence of Tim Hortons in the country. “Clearly, we need a Tim Hortons franchise,” Kathleen Wynne was quoted as telling university students, some of whom had attended Canadian schools. For those who are unfamiliar Abdul with the Latheef name, “TimSecond mie’s”, as the Thoughts company is affectionately called, is a national institution in Canada. From a single Ontario location 53 years ago, the coffee-and-doughnut chain has grown to become an industry leader with more than 4,600 stores in 10 countries. Its most popular offering is the “Double Double”, a coffee with two servings of sugar and cream. In 2008, the chain

High-Tech: Robots plunge into Chongqing pipelines

Robots were recently used to inspect the underground pipelines of the Shuitu High-Tech Industrial Park in the Liangjiang New Area in Chongqing. The robots, equipped with cameras, can rotate 120 degrees. Produced by HIT Robot Group, they can provide electro-topographic maps, giving workers a better understanding of the underground situation.

Biz: China, US remain top energy-consuming countries

China and the United States remain the world’s top energy-consuming countries, according to BP Statistics of World Energy 2017. China also dominated in renewables expansion, accounting for more than 40 percent of global growth last year, it said. India, Russia and Japan round off the top five spots.

Art: Quan Yingsheng’s Little Monks on show in Shanghai

Education: Calligraphy school writes letters with brushes More than 20 former professors, alumni and teachers at Shaanxi Normal University have been writing admission letters with brushes to the university’s freshmen in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. They plan to write 4,500 letters in 10 days. The school is reportedly the only university producing such letters in China.

Painter Quan Yingsheng’s series Little Monks always makes people smile. Each of his work portrays just one monk. Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple has been showcasing them since Saturday. Quan is also interested in comics, animations and computer games. He tries to recreate Chinese ink paintings through an infusion of modern art. He came up with the idea for the series in 2003. The exhibition runs until Friday.

The first Chinese documentary film on wartime sex slaves of Japanese troops will hit theaters on Aug 14. Twenty Two, directed by Guo Ke, records the daily life of 22 sex slavery victims and their memories of what happened during World War II. By last month, 13 of the 22 victims in the film had passed away. Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women, from the Korean Peninsula and other parts of Asia including Chi-

mier’s Office has nothing to add to your story as this is a corporate decision by Tim Hortons,” an aide said in an email to China Daily. As the company dithers, other players are racing ahead, with Starbucks in pole position. Last year, the US behemoth announced plans to double the number of stores in China to 5,000 by 2021, opening 500 stores every year. That makes sense because China is the fastest-growing coffee market in the world, and specialty stores are

Last year, China exported 81 million TVs, compared with 48 million in 2007, according to the General Administration of Customs. Also last year, TCL Multimedia Technology Holdings set up a production base in Egypt in partnership with local home appliances leader Elaraby Group to tap African and Middle Eastern markets. The company, which is a division of TCL Corp, opened its first overseas TV production base in Vietnam in 1999. Today, it generates nearly

half its revenues overseas. Meanwhile, Haier Group, China’s biggest maker of household appliances, established a research and development center and a TV assembly unit in Russia. In addition to setting up factories, brand promotion outside China is another strategy for going global. Appliances maker Hisense

Motorists line up at a Tim Hortons drive-thru in Toronto, Canada. ABDUL LATHEEF / CHINA DAILY

cropping up in cities, small and big. “Total sales revenue for chained specialist coffee shops in China was 18.5 billion yuan ($2.7 billion) last year, and is estimated to reach 32.9 billion in 2021,” market research provider Euromonitor International said last week. Canadian food service industry consultant Geoff Wilson said several conditions have to be met before a company enters a foreign market. “Typically, new market entries need to be executed correctly from the start. Second chances generally don’t occur,” he said. Yet, he believes that given China’s population and its economic growth, the country is a highly desirable market. “China may be in the future for Tim Hortons,” Wilson added. May be, but don’t expect any latecomer advantage in a market that is getting more crowded by the day. Contact the writer at abdul@chinadaily.com.cn

This Day, That Year Item from July 18, 1995, in China Daily: China is likely to produce more color television sets this year as domestic large-screen color TVs gain ground against imported ones in fierce competition. This year, the country’s total production of color TV sets will hit 16.5 million.

Buzzword: Chaos

Entertainment: Film on sex slaves premieres next month

announced its intention to enter the lucrative Chinese market. Nine years on, the company is still in the planning stages as far as China is concerned. In 2014, US fast-food giant Burger King acquired Tim Hortons and formed Restaurants Brands International, the world’s third-largest operator of quick-service restaurants, which is controlled by 3G Capital of Brazil. At the time, it was forecast that because Burger King was already operating in China, it would be easier for Tim Hortons to open outlets too. While the company has expanded to the Philippines and the United Kingdom since then, it is keeping us guessing about its plans for China. I asked both Tim Hortons and its parent company multiple times about their China strategy, but they did not respond. So I turned to Wynne’s office, which quickly responded, although that did not resolve the mystery. “Unfortunately the Pre-

Chaos, or Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome, refers to not inviting guests to one’s house because it is too messy or cluttered. Chaos will make you want to ban people from entering your home. You’ll do almost anything to not have to have people over for a visit. If Scan it! you see one of your friends Read coming up to your front more on door, you’ll hide and prechinadaily. tend like you’re not home. com.cn

Amid a slowdown in domestic demand, Chinese television manufacturers are increasing their presence in the global market.

sponsored the UEFA Euro 2016 soccer championship, becoming the first Chinese company to do so in the 56-year history of the tournament. Last year, Hisense also established R&D centers in Japan and Israel. So far, the company has set up 12 such centers worldwide.

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CH INA DAILY HONG KONG EDIT ION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

TOP NEWS

Dortmund takes shot at giant market for new fans

Beef deal benefits Nebraska corn crop By AMY HE in Lincoln, Nebraska amyhe@chinadailyusa.com

As US beef exports to China resume, Nebraska, the No 1 exporter of beef and beef products in the US, is optimistic that its biggest crop export — corn — also will benefit. The state suffered a huge blow in 2014 when China banned genetically modified corn from the United States. Before that, the state was shipping millions of metric tons of corn to the country, but that dropped to between 150,000 and 200,000 tons last year. About 95 percent to 97 percent of corn produced in Nebraska is genetically modified, but most of it consists of varieties that are now approved in China and other markets, said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director at the Nebraska Corn Board. “When we talk about corn, we look at corn in all forms. It may be raw product corn or it may be the value-added beef industry,” Brunkhorst said. “Nebraska’s blessed with being the No 1 cattle-on-feed state, and having that strong beef industry” is a “fantastic opportunity to move corn as

a value-added product into China, along with building upon what that means for corn in raw form,” he said. The first shipment of US beef to China left Omaha, Nebraska, on June 14, on a flight to customers in Shanghai. More than 6 million cattle in Nebraska feed on corn and corn byproducts. Cattle feed is composed of roughage, raw corn, corn sweetener byproduct, and ethanol byproduct, also known as distillers grains. Corn and beef work in tandem with each other, said Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts. “One of the benefits we have here is what we call a ‘golden triangle’ between the corn that we produce, our ethanol plants — which create fuel, and in fact Nebraska supplies about 1.5 percent of the overall liquid fuel supply for the United States — and a byproduct of that ethanol process, the distillers grains that then go into feeding our cattle,” he told China Daily in an interview. “That’s a great synergistic way we leverage our corn and add value to our commodities we produce here, to help create the best products in the world,” he said.

Flying down the track

Olympic sprinter Zhang Peimeng takes on China’s J-10 fighter jet as part of the CCTV show Cheers Science, which aired on Sunday. The J-10 beat Zhang, who competed at 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, over 100 meters. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Xi: Opening-up needs to aid consumer rights From page 1

Xi said. Xi said the sequence of opening-up in the financial sector should be arranged reasonably. Opening-up should be promoted in areas that are helpful with consumer rights and interests, reinforcing orderly competition in finance and preventing financial risks, he said. The country should further advance the steady internationalization of the renminbi and keep its exchange rate basically stable, he added. Also, China should match its supervision of the finance sector with the opening-up, and its systems’ shortcomings should be addressed, Xi said. To shape a more open environment for businesses, major cities such as Beijing,

Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen should gear up reforms and reduce inspections and fines, Xi said. Lists of fees charged should be drafted, and irregular, excessive, unauthorized or repetitive charges should be banned, Xi said. Intellectual property is part of a good corporate environment, and the country should boost the quality and efficiency in censoring intellectual property, he said, indicating it would create a more timely manner to bring it to the market. China should accelerate institution building for intellectual property of emerging areas and sectors, and punishment against intellectual property violation should be tougher to hold the violators accountable, he added.

By QIU QUANLIN in Guangzhou qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn

Roman Zamboch (right), director of the press office of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, speaks with other delegates at the China-CEEC Spokespersons Dialogue in Beijing on Monday. WANG ZHUANGFEI / CHINA DAILY

China and CEEC nations focus on media relations Dialogue strengthens ties with Central and Eastern Europe By HU YONGQI huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn

Chinese officials vowed on Monday to disseminate timely information on major events and public policies in an effort to achieve closer connections between the public and media and the government. The agreement came at the China-CEEC Spokespersons Dialogue, the first such event hosted by China to exchange views on news releases with representatives from 13 Central and Eastern European countries. Twelve of China’s govern-

mental spokesmen and spokeswomen shared experiences at the one-day dialogue in Beijing, which focused on the Belt and Road Initiative and global communication. The dialogue follows VicePremier Liu Yandong’s visit to Hungary last month. Plans call for Budapest to host the 6th China-CEEC Leaders’ Meeting this year. Jiang Jianguo, minister of the State Council Information Office, said China now has more than 200 spokesmen and spokeswomen at ministerial and provincial level organizations. Last year, about 5,000

China has protested to the United States over an annual US defense policy bill that includes clauses requiring reports on the possibility of naval ships from the US and Taiwan docking at each other’s ports, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday. “Related clauses seriously go against the one-China policy and the principles of the three

joint communiques between China and the US, and interfere in China’s internal affairs,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a daily news conference in Beijing. “China has lodged serious representations to the US,” he said. Lu said China resolutely opposes any form of official exchanges and military links between the US and Taiwan, urging the US to fully recognize the serious harmfulness

spokeswomen contributed to the forum’s success, as did their counterparts in each foreign delegation, he added. Song Shuli, spokeswoman of the Health and Family Planning Commission, said the government needs to disclose information in a transparent manner, and those charged with that job have encountered similar challenges in each of the countries. “The dialogue widens our perspectives and we can learn some effective solutions to problems,” she said. Glevin Dervishi, spokesman of Albanian Foreign Ministry, said there is a huge space to exchange views on preparing news releases. “We can share with each other. This dialogue is really helpful,” he added.

Tong backs lawmakers’ disqualification By JOSEPH LI in Hong Kong joseph@chinadailyhk.com

The four “pan-democratic” lawmakers were rightly deprived of their Legislative Council seats because they violated local legislation by not taking their oaths honestly and solemnly, Executive Councilor and Senior Counsel Ronny Tong Ka-wah says. The High Court ruled on Friday that Leung Kwok-hung, Nathan Law Kwun-chung, Edward Yiu Chung-yim and Lau Siu-lai should be disqualified as lawmakers for violating the legal requirements of oathtaking when they were sworn in last year. The judgment was not political suppression of them, Tong explained. This is because the Oaths and Declarations Ordinance has clearly spelt out oath-taking requirements, and non-compliance with the law may lead to disqualification; the four simply ignored the solemnity of the oath and the legal consequences. They had the right to appeal

but in the meantime should respect the court ruling and the fact that they are no longer legislators and could not exercise their privileges as such, he said. Speaking to China Daily in an exclusive interview, Tong said the outcome was unsurprising. It was also consistent with the verdict on Sixtus Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching, who were disqualified by the court from their LegCo seats for making a mockery of the LegCo oaths and insulting the Chinese nation. “It is a very robust judgment unaffected by political atmosphere externally,” Tong said. “From the legal and logical points of view, the court is right to disqualify the four this time after the Leung-Yau case as a precedent because what they did was quite similar. It is not right to disqualify Leung and Yau only but to let off the four.” Tong said lawmakers and politicians could make political gestures in LegCo but the four chose the wrong occasion by

Beijing protests proposed naval visits By MO JINGXI mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn

news conferences were held in China, showing the government’s open, inclusive, confident and respectful attitude toward the media, he said. Such representatives have to answer the public’s doubts and questions and inspire public unity, as well as explain domestic conditions to the globalized world, Jiang said. They have played a vital role in global governance as punctual information disclosures and responses to overseas concerns have boosted opening-up and winwin cooperation, he said. In May, China hosted the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, attracting more than 4,400 journalists from 830 media organizations, the minister said. China’s spokesmen and

of the amendments. “We ask the US not to pass and legislate the bill that includes such clauses, to not turn back the wheel of history, in order to avoid damaging China-US cooperation,” he added. The US House of Representatives passed on Friday the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. One amendment requires the US secretary of defense to report to congressional com-

mittees no later than Sept 1, 2018, on “the feasibility and advisability” of US Navy ships making ports of call in Taiwan and ships from Taiwan making ports of call in Hawaii, Guam or other locations, according to media reports. A final version of the legislation will be drafted at an undisclosed time and would take effect only after being approved by the Senate and signed by US President Donald Trump.

It is a very robust judgment unaffected by political atmosphere externally.” Ronny Tong Ka-wah, executive councilor and senior counsel

not swearing in properly. The entire oath has only a few sentences and contains only basic requirements of upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC. “The oath is not an excessive requirement and is in fact very reasonable. The oath-taking can be finished within two minutes, yet they could not behave themselves for two minutes,” he said. After the verdict was delivered, the four disqualified lawmakers attempted to force their way into the conference room where LegCo’s Finance Committee was meeting but were stopped by LegCo security guards. The four did not

enter the conference room but the remaining opposition lawmakers wreaked havoc by protesting and shouting at the meetings. Both meetings were abandoned in the end. In Tong’s opinion, the four appeared to have committed the offense of contempt of court because they were no longer lawmakers. Those opposition lawmakers who escorted them might have also committed the same offense. “Contempt of court is a criminal offense, which should be followed up by the Department of Justice, and even the chief executive has no say,” he advised.

Inside Comment > p8

Speedy trains, fast food

Meals for bullet train passengers are delivered to Guangzhou South Station’s online order center on Monday. It was the first day that preordered meals, from the railway operator’s catering service or partner businesses, were allowed. LIANG XU / XINHUA

The German Bundesliga soccer giant Borussia Dortmund announced on Monday that it is looking to team up with Chinese companies and social organizations to expand its fan base and promote its brand in China. The team is the latest toptier European soccer club to seek its way into the Chinese market in the midst of China’s ambitious plan to become a soccer power. “As a sports club with a history of more than 100 years, we are now aiming to develop more market potential in China,” Carsten Cramer, director of sales and marketing of Borussia Dortmund, said in Guangzhou, where the club will play against Italy’s AC Milan in the International Champions Cup on Tuesday. The German club signed a marketing agreement with Chinese bike-sharing company Ofo Inc, famous for its yellowbicycles,duringitssecond trip to China. The team’s colors are yellow and black.

50,000 academies and soccerfocused schools will be built by 2025, according to China’s soccer development plan.

“We are not looking for potential buyers or investors from China. Instead, we are making efforts to work with more partners to promote brands in China, which is a strategic potential market for us,” said Cramer. “Brand promotion and expansion of the fan base in China are considered priorities of future strategy.” Dortmund is part of a large sports club with more than 145,000 members, making it the second-largest club by membership in Germany. The club has already opened an office in Shanghai, which will help run more local activities to increase its fan base in China. Building a joint soccer academy is a likely next step for it to strengthen its footprint in China in the near future, Cramer said. Other major international soccer clubs that have already tapped into Chinese talent and markets include another major Bundesliga team, Bayern Munich, which announced plans to open a soccer training academy in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. The FC Bayern Football School Shenzhen is the German giant’s second training base in China. Spanish La Liga titan Barcelona launched a soccer academy in Haikou, capital of Hainan province, in February in cooperation with golf and tourism services provider Mission Hills Group. “Collaboration with top overseas clubs, especially in terms of developing young players, will help to promote China’s soccer training as the country strives to become a big player in the sport,” said Xie Liang, a veteran soccer commentator with Radio Guangdong. There will be 50,000 academies and soccer-focused schools built by 2025, according to China’s soccer development plan.

CHINA Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Fighting problematic livestreaming platforms doesn’t mean restricting the industry’s development. It’s not a conflict.” Wang Sixin, law professor at Communication University of China

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

Livestream oversight gets stricter

Teaching moment

Briefly HEBEI

Ex-bank executive pleads guilty Yao Zhongmin, a former senior executive of China Development Bank, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes worth more than 36 million yuan ($5.3 million) during a hearing at Baoding Intermediate People’s Court on Monday. From 2000 to 2013, Yao, deputy head and chief supervisor of the bank, made use of his position to offer loans and contract rights to others in exchange for bribes, prosecutors said. The court said its judgment will be announced at a later date.

Platforms should be free of unhealthy or illegal information, authorities say By CAO YIN caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn

China has increased its efforts to regulate livestreaming platforms in a move to prevent the internet environment from being polluted by unhealthy or illegal information, the nation’s anti-pornography office said on Monday. The National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications, a joint team including China’s Cyberspace Administration and the Ministry of Culture, called for strengthening the fight against violators on platforms providing live broadcasts. From January to June, 73 livestreaming platforms and 91,443 live studios with illegal content were closed, while 1,879 live hosts were permanently blacklisted, according to the cyberspace administration. The office also cooperated with public security authorities to crack cases in which livestreaming providers or live anchors were suspected of spreading pornographic information. In a recent case, police in Zhejiang province broke up a gang led by two suspects surnamed Fang and Qi, who set

up a platform in February and operated it overseas using female hosts. By May, more than 1.08 million people had become members and paid more than 7.28 million yuan ($1.1 million) to watch livestreamed programs. There were more than 1,000 hosts. So far, police have detained 22 suspects, the office said, adding that three people are still on the run. Wang Sixin, a law professor at Communication University of China, applauded the action and the office’s increasing efforts to regulate livestreaming platforms, “as they are enforcing our laws and rules”. In December, the cyberspace administration issued a regulation on how to manage live platforms. It said anyone using the platforms to harm national security, damage social stability or spread pornography must be banned. “The rules to regulate the platforms are sufficient. What we need to do is implement them effectively,” Wang said. “Fighting problematic livestreaming platforms doesn’t mean restricting the industry’s development. It’s not a conflict.”

Rescuers deal with wrecked vehicles after flooding in Yongji county, Jilin province, on Saturday. WANG QIANG / FOR CHINA DAILY

City takes heavy blow from storms; 18 dead By HOU LIQIANG in Beijing and HAN JUNHONG in Changchun

Floods in Jilin city, Jilin province, have killed 18 people and left another 18 missing, while more than 110,000 people have been relocated, local authorities said on Monday. Heavy rains in the central and eastern parts of the province on Thursday and Friday left much of it inundated. Jilin city was one of the most seriously affected. Li Senshan was on duty on the fifth floor of the Yongji county museum at 7 pm on Thursday when he saw people taking shelter from the rain on the first floor of the building. He led four people upstairs to a safer area before he spotted a woman who also needed help. “Soon after I let the woman in, floodwaters broke the windows and poured in. I was knocked down and soon felt faint,” he was quoted as saying by New Culture, a local newspaper. Li was found bleeding and bruised by medical workers, who provided first aid.

The flood left large amounts of mud in some areas of the city. About 10,000 square meters around a major shopping mall in Yongji, for example, was covered with mud 1 to 2 meters deep. According to the operators of a local market, almost 100 truckloads of mud had been moved from the area as of 10:30 am Monday and another 400 truckloads were yet to be cleared. More than 32,000 people were working across the city to remove mud and debris, repair bridges and reconnect households to telecommunications and electrical networks, the city government said on Monday. The government has also dispatched at least 300 people to deal with hygiene and disease control. Almost 400 metric tons of lime for disinfection had been scattered as of Sunday afternoon and 72,000 disease control leaflets had been handed out to the public. Contact the writers at houliqiang@ chinadaily.com.cn

GUANGDONG

Man with knife kills 2, hurts 9 A teacher shows a model aircraft to the children of rural migrant workers during a summer camp at Northwest Polytechnical University in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, on Monday. The children planned to visit a museum and an ocean park, and to attend training sessions on basketball and public speaking. YUAN JINGZHI / FOR CHINA DAILY

Code of conduct issued for scientists By ZHANG ZHIHAO zhangzhihao@ chinadaily.com.cn

The China Association for Science and Technology recently published guidelines for improving the self-discipline of scientists and curbing academic fraud in scientific papers. The association issued the guidelines to its affiliated organizations and schools last week. It included codes of conduct and bottom lines for scientific papers. The bottom lines are no fabrication, no plagiarism, no impersonation and no bribery. The association also called for scientists to be conscious of national goals and to pursue innovation to advance the well-being of the people and the country, while upholding academic practices. Since 2015, foreign science publications have frequently retracted research papers by Chinese authors. “This has a serious negative social impact and has

These retractions are the result of some Chinese scientists lacking discipline or morals. The guidelines are meant to promote the scientific spirit and strengthen moral standards.” China Association for Science and Technology

directly harmed Chinese scientists’ international reputations,” the association said in a statement. “These retractions are the result of some Chinese scientists lacking discipline or morals,” it said. “The guidelines are meant to promote the scientific spirit and strengthen moral standards.” The medical journal Tumor Biology, published by Springer Nature, retracted 107 Chinese papers in April after an investigation found the peer review process had been compromised with fabricated email addresses of reviewers.

The move affected more than 520 Chinese researchers. Some were from top schools such as Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University and China Medical University. The Ministry of Science and Technology is currently investigating the scandal. Early results suggest that the authors had passed their articles to dubious third-party agencies for polishing or review, resulting in unethical practices. In March 2015, BioMed Central, a major publisher of medical and science journals based in the United Kingdom, retracted 43 papers

over fabricated peer reviews, 41 of which were written by Chinese scholars. China has been the world’s second-largest producer of academic papers since 2009, trailing only the United States, according to the Science Citation Index, a database that covers most of the world’s leading science and technology journals. China produced more than 300,000 works for international journals in 2016, compared with 13,000 in 1996. Publishing papers in international journals has become an important benchmark for measuring a researcher’s performance, which is linked to salary, funding and job promotions, according to Xinhua News Agency. The Chinese scientific community is weighing reforms to make scientists’ performance evaluations more robust and rational. At the same time, more regulations are seen as necessary to prevent and punish violators and unethical third-party agencies.

Report: Judiciary protects human rights Editor's Note: China’s judicial system has improved human rights protections since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, according to a summary published on Saturday under the name “Qi Ju” in the overseas edition of People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the CPC. The article was originally published in Chinese. Following is a translated summary, edited for length and clarity: The judiciary is the last line of defense in safeguarding social fairness and justice. Since 2012, significant achievements have been made in promoting legislation based on rational analysis, strict law enforcement, judicial justice and observance of the law by all citizens. The country has strengthened judicial protections of human rights, including efforts to allocate judicial powers and responsibilities in a more rational way and improving accountability and transparency. The country has abolished the system of re-education through labor and established a national judicial assistance system. Reforms have been advanced to ensure that cases

FIVE YEARS ON JUSTICE

are filed and properly handled. Judicial organs have implemented the principle of presumption of innocence and exclusion of unlawful evidence. China strictly limits the death penalty and employs it with prudence. Detainees’ rights and interests are guaranteed by improved conditions of prisons and detention houses and enhanced scrutiny of supervisory activities. Commutation, parole and execution of sentences outside prison safeguards detainees’ personal dignity, safety, property and the rights of defense and appeal.

Protecting lawyers China has made or revised laws and regulations to ensure lawyers’ right of practice. In 2015, regulations were issued to make clear various measures to protect lawyers’ rights of practice, including

the right to know, to meet their clients and read case files. By March 2017, all 31 provincial-level lawyer associations had established lawyer rights protection centers. In April, a circular was jointly issued by various authorities to further clarify different departments’ duties in safeguarding lawyers’ rights to practice.

Ensuring justice Judicial organs nationwide have implemented the principle of the presumption of innocence to prevent and correct miscarriages of justice. In 2013, the Ministry of Public Security issued a circular on improving law enforcement to prevent miscarriages, along with other documents to prevent improper verdicts and improve real-time scrutiny of law enforcement. The Ministry of Justice strengthened forensic assessment management and further regulated such activities, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate released a circular to prevent and correct miscarriages of justice by improving procuratorial functions, including scrutinizing all activities concerning evidence, procedures and

application of law, improving the system of discovery, correcting and preventing improper verdicts and holding those responsible accountable. The Supreme People’s Court stipulated that defendants should be acquitted if evidence is insufficient.

Rules of evidence China has clarified its laws to exclude unlawful evidence and protect the rights and interests of criminal suspects. The Criminal Procedure Law revised in 2012 makes clear that confessions extorted by torture, or witness testimony and depositions of victims obtained illegally, such as by violence or threats, should be excluded from trials. In June, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, and the Ministry of Justice jointly released a regulation on the exclusion of illegally obtained evidence in criminal cases. Defenders of criminal suspects are allowed to ask that illegal evidence be ruled out during investigations. XINHUA

A knife-wielding man killed two people and injured nine others on Sunday night in a supermarket in Shenzhen, police said. The 30-year-old suspect, an unemployed man, attacked people with a kitchen knife in a Wal-Mart outlet at around 9 pm. The attacker has been detained. XINHUA—CHINA DAILY

Police tell exercisers to stay off the roads By ZHAO RUIXUE in Jinan zhaoruixue@ chinadaily.com.cn

The police in Linyi, Shandong province, are encouraging schools to open their playgrounds to the public for exercise after a taxi drove into a group of people jogging in a vehicle lane, leaving one person dead and two injured. Traffic police will ask people who jog in vehicle lanes to use the sidewalk and require them not to disturb traffic, the Linyi police said via social media. Those who seriously violate traffic regulationswillfacepunishment. The Zaoyuan walking team, which has more than 40 members, was notified by police that its members can exercise on the Zaoyuan Middle School playground. However, a team member said it’s more convenient to walk on roads. “It’s dark on the playground at night, as there are no lights. However, considering safety, and if every member agrees to walk there, we’ll go,” she was quoted as saying by Beijing Times. Five days after the deadly incident on July 8, a video circulated online showing another group of people dressed in fluorescent clothing jogging at night in vehicle lanes in Linyi. However, Liu Junhai, the team leader, said the group was not using the vehicle lanes. “We were walking on the sidewalk. We just used the vehicle lane for a short distance because cars were parked on the sidewalk,” he said. Xu Guilin, head of a sports association, said all walking teams were notified not to use vehicle lanes. If they are found doing so, the team flag and number will be revoked and its leaders will be kicked out. Responsibility for the deadly accident has not been determined yet.

CHINA 5

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

People cool off in air-raid shelters High temperatures push residents to seek respite below ground By CANG WEI in Nanjing cangwei@chinadaily.com.cn

Foreign tourists ride shared bikes to Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first ethnic-themed outdoor festival held in Rongjiang, Guizhou province, earlier this year. The festival involves a combination of sports and tourism with characteristics of Dong and Miao ethnic groups. DENG GANG / FOR CHINA DAILY

Guizhou invites tourists to beat the heat By YANG JUN in Guiyang and XIN DINGDING in Beijing

Mountainous Guizhou province has adopted new measures to get more tourists to spend a cool summer there, as many parts of the country swelter in heat and humidity. Tourists from 10 provinciallevel regions deemed to be among the hottest in China â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Jiangxi and Anhui provinces, as well

as the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Chongqing municipality â&#x20AC;&#x201D; can enjoy a 50 percent discount on tickets to most scenic spots in Guizhou between Tuesday and Sept 15, the provincial government said in a news release on Monday. Cars with license plates registered in the 10 areas can also enjoy a 50-percent discount on tolls if they use the provincial highway during the time. There will also be deep discounts on airline tickets

between Guizhou and the 10 areas. Airlines are encouraged to add more flights to Guizhou, for which they will be exempted from part of the fees for using airports in the province. Sofarthisyear,20flightshave been added to Guiyang, the provincial capital, from the 10 areas, said Wang Wenxue, deputy director of Guizhou Tourism Development Committee. The welcome gesture was made at a time when many parts of the country are experi-

encing oppressive heat. Wang said that while many areas were forecast to have temperatures above 35 C in recent days, Guizhou boasts an average temperature of 23 C in July. The measures are expected to attract more tourists to the province, which received 81 million visitors between June and September last year. Contact the writers at yangjun@chinadaily.com.cn

Sanya: Attraction of TCM benefits region From page 1

are visiting with a special purpose â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the benefits of TCM. Medical tourism, which according to one US research report is expected to bring in $678 billion this year worldwide, is gaining new momentum in Hainan, once a key stop on the ancient Maritime Silk Road and now a burgeoning international tourism destination thanks to policy support from the central government, according to Wu Ming, deputy director of the Hainan Health and Family Planning Commission and head of the provincial TCM administration. He said the State designated Hainan as a pioneering region for TCM service trade innovation in 2014 and projected this year to turn the island into a national TCM service trade and healthcare tourism demonstration zone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leading medical bodies such as Sanya TCM Hospital have actually pioneered the development of TCM healthcare tourism by taking advantage of the local natural environment and tourist resources, starting in 2002,â&#x20AC;? Wu said. He said the hospital provided tailor-made TCM services to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev and dignitaries and ambassadors from 18 countries. The hospital has been awarded a number of diplomatic honors, such as from the Russian government for its contribution to China-Russia friendship through its treatment of the hostage crisis victims. Around 50,000 foreigners â&#x20AC;&#x201D; mostly from Russian-speaking countries and northern Europe and some from Canada, the United States, Turkey and Iran â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have received high-end tailored TCM therapies that eased or cured their illnesses, while traveling in Sanya since the healthcare tourism effort began in 2002, according to statistics from the hospital. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Among people living in a frigid climate, there is a high incidence of nerve diseases such as cerebral palsy, respiratory system problems like asthma, motion system problems such as hip-joint and knee-

joint problems, for which TCM therapies have good curative effects,â&#x20AC;? said Wang Tiansong, president of the hospital, which cooperates with five Russian medical institutions and companies in addition to a number upcoming ties with medical centers in Russia, Sweden and Malaysia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The natural climate advantages that are essential to good health, the effectiveness and low cost of TCM resources that make TCM strongly competitive and the natural means of treatment that are gradually favored by more and more Western tourists promise bright prospects for medical tourism in Hainan.â&#x20AC;? Sanya hospitals are becoming hot spots for visits by those from both domestic and overseas medical institutions and agencies seeking experience and opportunities of cooperation. Roshal Leonid Mikhailovich, president of the Russian National Medical Commission, spoke highly of Sanyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical capabilities and its integration with Western medicine during a recent trip to inspect medical projects for rehabilitation and treatment of children with cerebral palsy in Sanya. He said the Russian commission had signed a framework on medical and healthcare cooperation with provincial health authorities, adding that he hoped to import Chinese medicine technology to Russia. Another team of Russian experts, headed by C. Rosoff, an academician with the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and director of the Far East Respiratory Diseases Research Center, found broad prospects for cooperation with Sanya in the prevention and rehabilitation of respiratory diseases and the management of chronic diseases. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would like to come to Sanya to conduct clinical, research and education work,â&#x20AC;? he said, after a recent visit observing the development of Sanya hospitals, the Phoenix Island cruise economy and island vacation centers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A number of other overseas agencies and companies also have shown interest in conducting cooperation of TCM service trade with our hospital, which is serving as a Sanya model for TCM healthcare

In addition to shopping malls and libraries, many Nanjing residents have chosen to enjoy the cool air of airraid shelters, where they may read books, dance or play online games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I like most about the air-raid shelters is that there are no mosquitoes,â&#x20AC;? said Zhong Yue, a 16-year-old who accompanied her grandmother to Beijiyan Shelter, which is built into a hillside. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My grandma goes to the shelter almost every day in summer with her friends to save electricity. I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environmentally friendly. However, I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be here if free Wi-Fi wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t provided.â&#x20AC;? Since Saturday, Nanjing has opened eight of its airraid shelters to the public. Tables, chairs and free mineral water are provided, along with dehumidifiers. Beijiyan Shelter, which literally means North Pole rock shelter in Chinese, is located near well-known attractions, such as Xuanwu Lake and Jiming Temple. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just residents. Visitors find their way into the shelter as well. Yuan Man, a Suzhou stu-

dent who will go to college this September, said that the shelter looks different from what he had imagined. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought it would be dark and terrifying inside, like in the war movies,â&#x20AC;? said the student, who is traveling in Nanjing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bright and clean. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I shivered when I first entered. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost 40 C outside and inside itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only half that temperature.â&#x20AC;? Yuan Renshui, a community worker in Qixia district, said people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get bored, even if they spend the whole day in the Qianxin Yinkuang Shelter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We bought a television this year,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The shelter covers more than 200 square meters. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s divided

into three rooms for reading, playing poker and dancing.â&#x20AC;? The shelter is the only one in the city thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open all year. Others are open daily from July 15 to late August. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many people come to the shelter around 9:30 am and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave until it closes at 5 pm,â&#x20AC;? said Chen Ya, who is retired. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some even bring lunch.â&#x20AC;? Other cities, such as Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Fuzhou, Fujian province, and Chengdu, Sichuan province have also opened their air-raid shelters to the public. According to the National Meteorological Center, heat will continue to grip parts of eastern, northern and southern China. Temperatures in some parts are expected to hit 37 to 40 degrees. Guo Jun contributed to this story.

People stay cool in an air-raid shelter in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on Saturday. CUI XIAO / FOR CHINA DAILY

More details emerge in deadly apartment fire set by nanny By SHI XIAOFENG in Hangzhou shixf@chinadaily.com.cn

A Russian patient receives traditional Chinese medicine therapy at a hospital in Sanya, Hainan province, in February. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

tourism,â&#x20AC;? said Wang of the Sanya hospital, which has a team of 198 veteran doctors. Wang said his hospital will set up rehabilitation and healthcare centers to make full use of the precaution and healthcare functions of TCM to cope with health issues that affect people, such as insomnia, depression, anxiety and lumbar and cervical vertebra problems. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More medical institutions, especially public hospitals, will actively engage in promoting the TCM service trade, after the designation of more demonstration basesâ&#x20AC;? to promote TCM and tourism by the provincial authorities earlier this year,â&#x20AC;? said Wu, head of the provincial TCM administration. Government management and supervision of the TCM services also is being improved in the province. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hainan soon will release a set of regulations to help standardize and guide the innovative, healthy and sustainable growth of the TCM service trade and healthcare tourism in Hainan, cultivate more local brands and projects and promote internationalization of TCM by encouraging local medical bodies to open overseas TCM services on a cooperation basis,â&#x20AC;? Wu said. He said five provincial level workrooms will be open in Hainan to help attract famous doctors from around the country who could assist in attracting TCM talent and ensure quality services to overseas tourists and promote the overseas TCM services trade. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hainan, which has developed advanced technologies for growing southern herbal medicine, will also conduct more cooperation on growing, research and development of southern Chinese medicine with southeastern Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative and help build international teams to ensure sustainable utilization of southern medicine overseas,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While learning from

countries with good medical tourism experience such as Japan, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea, Hainan will put emphasize on developing light medical tourism products that highlight Hainanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural resources, such as hot spring spas, TCM massaging, forest hiking and golfing,â&#x20AC;? said Sun Ying, director of the Hainan Tourism Development Commission. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cooperation with the World Medical Tourism Association, the World Society of Anti-Aging Medicine and the China Health Management Association will be strengthened to introduce international service brands.â&#x20AC;?

Hangzhou authorities have released more details in the case of a nanny accused of setting fire to an apartment in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China News Service reported on Monday. At a news conference, the authorities said the nanny had used her mobile phone to learn how to set a fire. They also said the property management company failed to maintain safe facilities and to provide emergency response. The police said Mo Huanjing, 34, confessed after her arrest, and was charged on July 1 with arson and theft in connection with the blaze that swept through an apartment in a residential building on June 22. The fire killed

a mother and her three children, aged 6 to 11 years, Li Bing, deputy director of the Shangcheng district public security bureau, said at the news conference. Mo was addicted to online gambling, Li said. She had worked as a babysitter since 2015 in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, and in Shanghai, but was fired three times after being accused of theft. She had worked for the family caught in the fire since September and had stolen items she subsequently pawned for 130,000 yuan ($19,000) to pay off gambling debts. Mo also borrowed 114,000 yuan from her employer, claiming she needed to buy a house for her parents. During the investigation, the police discovered that Mo had searched such key words as â&#x20AC;&#x153;lighterâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;sofa fireâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;curtain fireâ&#x20AC;? from 2 am

to 4 am on the day of the blaze, the news service reported. Later, at 4:55 am, Mo used a lighter to set fire to a book on a tea table. The fire spread to the sofa, got out of control and frightened Mo, who fled, leaving the mother and three children to die. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 5:11 am, but the fire engine was blocked. Firemen rescued seven people but failed to reach the blazing room. Insufficient fire hydrant pressure prevented fire suppression and delayed the rescue effort, the report said. According to Chen, the property management company had many problems with its emergency preparedness, including staff members who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to switch on a fire hydrant pump manually.

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6 CHINA

Tuesday, July 18, 2017 CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

COURTS

Experts call for compensation shake-up Although more miscarriages of justice are being overturned than ever before, legal professionals say the sums awarded for the mental anguish endured as a result of wrongful imprisonment are inadequate, as Cao Yin reports.

n June, six months after their convictions for robbery, rape and murder were quashed on appeal, four men from Jiangxi province claimed State compensation for their wrongful conviction and imprisonment 13 years ago. Three of the men have applied to the provincial high peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s court for compensation amounting to more than 20 million yuan ($2.9 million) each, including 12 million yuan each for the psychological trauma they experienced. The fourth man has applied to the provincial peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s procuratorate, but details of his claim are not known. In April, the Supreme Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court, the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top judicial body, issued guidelines to supervise procedures when courts handle claims for State compensation, saying the regulated process is a key step in the implementation of rule of law and the protection of human rights. Tao Kaiyuan, vice-president of the top court, called on courts at all levels to improve the quality of case hearings to prevent flawed judgments, and ordered them to improve transparency in the procedures for handling applications. According to the experts, a number of problems, such as the relatively low sums awarded and imprecise definitions of mental torment, must be resolved as quickly as possible. Since the revision of the State Compensation Law in 2010, people subject to miscarriages of justice have been able to apply for compensation for psychological trauma. However, many questions remain, such as how mental anguish can be quantified, and how to narrow the gap between compensation paid for wrongful imprisonment and for mental anguish. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pleasing to see compensation awards rising, and that our increasing efforts to regulate criminal procedures in recent years have helped to overturn many wrongful convictions. However, the developments havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gone far enough,â&#x20AC;? said Zhang Xuefeng, a lawyer in Beijing. Under Chinese law, the sums awarded as compensation for mental anguish are based on how much people have received for wrongful imprisonment or physical injuries sustained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That means raising the latter will be useful in improving the amounts paid for psychological damage,â&#x20AC;? Zhang said. Wang Wanqiong, a lawyer from Sichuan province, representedChenMan,whoseconviction was overturned last year. She was optimistic about the possibility of higher levels of compensation, but suggested that a wider range of items be added to compensation lists, such as expenses incurred during the appeal process, to balance the lower sums awarded for mental anguish.

Compensation rises Since 2012, when Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current administration assumed power, the courts have overturned34miscarriagesofjustice. Chen was awarded 2.75 million yuan after spending nearly 24 years in prison, having been detained in 1992, before being wrongfully convicted of murder and arson in 1994. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Initially, we asked for compensation of more than 9.66 million yuan, but the sum we finally received was not as much as we expected,â&#x20AC;? Wang said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The major part of the award was for more than two decades of wrongful imprisonment.â&#x20AC;? Last year, the daily payment for wrongful imprisonment was calculated in line with average earnings in 2015. However, in May, the Supreme Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court issued the latest standard, which states that compensation will now be set at a fixed daily rate of 258.89 yuan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ten years ago, the figure was about 80 yuan,â&#x20AC;? Wang said,

noting that although daily compensation rates have risen every year, the process has been too slow. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The courts now have a clear formula to use, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier for them to agree compensation for wrongful imprisonment,â&#x20AC;? she said, adding that daily compensation levels should be tailored to individual circumstances. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After all, the salaries of civil servants or business executives subject to miscarriages of justice are very different to those of regular workers,â&#x20AC;? she noted.

A major development According to Zhang, the lawyer in Beijing, the greater availability of compensation for psychological trauma is a major judicial development. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the highlight of the revised law, because it indicates how the far the situation has progressed. Compensation for mental anguish is not only a comfort to the applicants and their families, but also an apology from the nation for mistakes made by the judicial system,â&#x20AC;? he said. Legal interpretations of the revised State Compensation Law suggest that payments for psychological trauma should not exceed 35 percent of the compensation paid for wrongful detention. In recent years, one of the most-publicized miscarriages of justice was that of Nie Shubin, who was executed in 1995 after being convicted of rape and murder. In December, his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court and his family was awarded 1.3 million yuan, the highest sum paid as compensation for mental trauma in China. By contrast, Qian Renfeng, who spent 14 years in prison afterbeingwrongfullyconvictedof killing a child with poison, received 500,000 yuan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Applying for compensation for mental suffering is like bargaining in a market,â&#x20AC;? said Yang Zhu,Qianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;slawyer.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Insomecases, awards for mental anguish are arranged privately between the courts and attorneys, which I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think is sensible or good for applicants,â&#x20AC;? he said. Chen received 900,000 yuan for the psychological trauma he experienced. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The award accounted for almost 50 percent of the sum he received for wrongful detention,â&#x20AC;? Wang said. Both Wang and Yang believe it would be impractical to draw a clear line. â&#x20AC;&#x153;During the application process, it is difficult to assess how much mental trauma an applicant has suffered. So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not suitable to award compensation simply as a reflection of the time and effort a lawyer has spent on the case,â&#x20AC;? Yang said. He suggested that compensation for psychological trauma could be improved by raising the amount paid in daily compensation, and that diversifying the range of items for which people can be compensated would be a practical way of providing more money for mental trauma awards. Culpability Cheng Lei, an associate professor of law at Renmin University of China, is encouraged by the rise in the number of flawed convictions that have been overturned in recent years. But a gap still exists between the amounts claimed and the sums awarded, and it will not be narrowed anytime soon, according to Cheng. He believes China should follow the example of the United States, where applicants are allowed to sue individuals and departments responsible for miscarriages of justice. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Identifying individuals and departments and then initiating lawsuits may be a more effective method, because in the US compensation awards in common lawsuits are usually higher than those for claims against the state,â&#x20AC;? he said. Zhangsaidsomeitemsinclud-

The family and friends of Nie Shubin, who was executed in 1995, at his graveside the day after his conviction for rape and murder was quashed by an appeal court. CHI TU / FOR CHINA DAILY

Paying the price for wrongful convictions The number of compensation cases concluded between 2013 and 2015, and the amounts paid by the State. CASES AMOUNT PAID (Unit: million yuan) 250

6,000

5,439

5,000

3,000 2,000

240

200

4,000

150

2,708

100

2,045

87.4

110

1,000 0

0 2013

2014

2015

2013

2014

2015

COMPENSATION The average compensation paid for each day spent in prison as a result of a wrongful conviction. (Unit: yuan) 300 250 200 150 100

99.3

112

2008

2009

125.4

142.3

162.7

182.4

200.7

219.7

242.3

258.9

50 0 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Sources: Work Report of the Supreme Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court, The Supreme Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court CHINA DAILY

Free, but still fighting

Recentpayments e ,) *%1-0= 3* 9+.-089A % young man from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region who was wrongfully convicted and executed for rape and murder in 1996, was awarded more than 2 million yuan ($295,000) in 2014, including 1 million yuan for their mental suffering. e %78 =)%6A ,)2 %2A *631 Sichuan province, who spent nearly 24 years in jail after being wrongfully convicted of homicide and arson, was awarded 2.75 million yuan, including 900,000 yuan for mental anguish. e %78 =)%6A -%2 )2*)2+A 32, from Yunnan province, won compensation of 1.72 million yuan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 500,000 yuan for mental anguish â&#x20AC;&#x201D; after being

ed in applications, such as travel and hotel expenses, are not accepted by certain courts, which indicates a lack of clear legal regulation, indicating that the law should be improved. The culpability of the judiciary and the police in miscarriages of justice also needs to be urgently addressed, he said. According to Yang, the problem lies in incorrect implementation of the regulations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The law clearly states that lawyers and court officials who contribute to miscarriages of justice should be held responsible, but

Chen Man (center) speaks to the media after his conviction was overturned. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

wrongfully imprisoned for 14 years for murder. e 2 A -%2 -2A A *631 Fujian province, received compensation of 1.19 million yuan for physical injuries he sustained during 2,800 days in prison after being wrongfully convicted of killing two children with poison in 2006 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 550,000 yuan was awarded as compensation for Nianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mental anguish. e 2 %6',A 8,) 4%6)287 3* Nie Shubin, who was convicted and executed for rape and murder 22 years ago, were granted compensation of 2.68 million yuan after a retrial last year quashed Nieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conviction. Part of the payment â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 1.3 million yuan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; was awarded for the parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mental anguish. - CAO YIN

it is extremely difficult to do that in practice,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Holding individuals to account for their mistakes would be an important way of ensuring that justice is done, and in promoting the rule of law,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knowing that they could shoulder the blame would ensure that officials do their jobs to the best of their abilities and would also help to avoid miscarriages of justice.â&#x20AC;? Contact the writer at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn

By CAO YIN

Nian Bin spent eight years on death row after being wrongfully convicted of killing two children with poison in 2006. In August 2014, he was exonerated and freed by an appeals court, which said the evidence produced at his trial had been insufficient to guarantee a lawful conviction. In February, the Fujian province native stepped back into the spotlight. He submitted a second application for State compensation, asking the public security authorities in Fuzhou, the provincial capital, and Pingtan county, where he lived, to pay 4.12 million yuan for improper use of handcuffs and shackles during his years in prison that left him with permanent injuries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The illegal use of these restraints injured my brother, and now he is unable to live a normal life,â&#x20AC;? said Nian Jianlan, Nian Binâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s older sister. She said the application included the cost of Nianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical treatment since leaving prison, â&#x20AC;&#x153;as well as the money I spent during the past decade to clear his nameâ&#x20AC;?. However, on May 26, a

Nian Bin

medical expert hired by the Fuzhou Public Security Bureau to examine Nian Bin submitted a report in which he claimed the injuries did not exist. Meanwhile, evidence previously provided by Nian Binâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lawyer outlining the injuries was deemed insufficient. Now, the familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lawyer is requesting that the provincial high court rehears the application in an attempt to identify whether Nian Binâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s injuries are related to the improper use of restraints. That seems par for the course, given that since his conviction was quashed, his application for State compensation has been far from smooth. In 2014, he applied for compensation of more than

150 million yuan ($22 million) for the time he spent in prison and the psychological trauma he experienced as a result. In February 2015, Nian Bin was awarded 1.19 million yuan by the provincial high peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s court. His family refused to accept the decision, and appealed to the Supreme Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court, Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top judicial chamber. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Such a sum wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t solve our difficulties. Our house in Fujian was destroyed (by relatives of the dead children), and I lost my job because I was busy with my brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appeal,â&#x20AC;? Nian Jianlan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our family also had debts at the time, so we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even afford daily living expenses.â&#x20AC;? In January, the top court upheld the original award, saying it was the largest sum the provincial court was able to provide in cases such as Nian Binâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. However, the court suggested the family should instead apply to the local public security bureau for compensation. Under the State Compensation Law, applicants are allowed to change the target of their applications and new information can be included in the submission.

POLICY REVIEW 7

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

POLICY RESPONSE

EXPRESS DELIVERY STEP WILL HELP COMPANIES BOOST THEIR SERVICES

Building, inspections among key issues

Regulation ensures safety of information after market witnesses rapid expansion

By ZHANG YUE zhangyue@chinadaily.com.cn

Central ministries responded to a series of public concerns in the past week, including construction of small towns, environmental inspections, student subsidies and mine conditions.

Building guidelines The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued a document on the construction of small towns. The style of buildings in these towns has become a heated topic in recent years. The document makes clear that the construction of “characteristic towns” shall not result in undue disturbance. The construction of high-rise buildings, tearing down existing compounds and blindly copying a foreign culture will not be encouraged when building a new township.

SHI YU / CHINA DAILY

By HU YONGQI huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn

Eleven hours, 100 parcels, eight neighboring communities. That’s Liu Zili’s daily task. His main concern though is not the arduous work but his disappointment that no one seems to trust the deliveryman, though he knows almost everyone in these communities. During the past seven years, the 43-year-old deliveryman has tried to forge a closer connection with his clients. However, he never truly succeeded because clients were inclined to avoid any personal contact due to scandals and mishaps such as lost parcels and disclosure of personal information. Liu is well known on the streets but still feels like a stranger in the capital city. His clients’ reluctance to get to know him better was perhaps understandable but Liu was disheartened. He said many of his fellow workers share his sentiment.

Recent years have seen a rapid expansion of the express delivery market, demanding further regulation to keep consumers and the sector safer. A draft regulation on express delivery was approved in principle at a State Council executive meeting, which was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. Measures will be introduced to simplify procedures for companies to set up new branches and park vehicles, both aiming to reduce the cost of logistics. The new draft stipulates service rules and safety requirements for express delivery companies, stressing on protecting the legitimate rights of consumers as well as express deliverymen. Meanwhile, the draft also sets rules for compensation and information protection. Further details are still unknown until the draft is released for discussions. It came after the first draft of a

document was released by the State Council Legal Affairs Office in November 2015 to solicit opinions, which focused on key areas; infrastructure, safety concerns and personal information security. The first half of this year saw 17.4 billion express delivery parcels delivered, up by 31 percent compared to the same period last year, the State Post Bureau said last week. The sector achieved revenue of 218 billion yuan ($32.1 billion), which increased by 27 percent. As of this month, more than 21,000 companies were running 189,000 branches across the country with more than 2 million employees. However, consumers still find cause for complaint with 1.3 million submitted to the National Post Consumer Complaint Center in 2016. More than 28 percent of complaints were filed over delayed delivery and another 20 percent over parcels lost on the way to receivers. In

Systematic risks should be managed to avoid any further disclosure of personal information and any illegal conduct related to personal safety.” Yang Daqin, researcher at the China Society of Logistics

this sense, the express delivery sector needs more sophisticated regulation. Express delivery has spread from cities to larger areas in rural communities. As the country promotes the Internet Plus Initiative, a strategy to integrate traditional industries with online services, more parcels have been transported from farmers to the tables of urban residents. During this process, the number of branches and collection sites has surged, said Xu Yong, chief consultant of the online logistics consultancy cecss.com. Therefore, one certificate required for one company will make it easier to set up branches and will reduce institutional cost for express delivery companies, he said. The deliveryman Liu said most deliverymen are hardworking and resolute in protecting clients’ information. However, some scandals have hurt the image of express delivery companies and stricter management is urgently needed.

Yang Daqin, a researcher at the China Society of Logistics, said the express delivery sector is changing into a comprehensive logistics industry to provide diversified services. The draft should encompass logistics services provided by internet companies, he said. Express delivery companies possess a huge amount of personal information, including names, addresses and mobile phone numbers. Systematic risks should be managed to avoid any further disclosure of personal information and any illegal conduct related to personal safety, Yang added. The premier said during Wednesday’s meeting that the emerging sector of express delivery can facilitate people’s lives and reduce logistics costs, which is also beneficial to spur consumption and economic growth. “Relevant departments should listen to opinions from all parties concerned with in-depth research, making the new draft a boost to healthy development of the sector and ensure legal rights of consumers and deliverymen,” the premier added.

Policydigest Nutrition plan provides food for thought The General Office of the State Council published its national nutrition plan for 2017-30 with the goal of reducing obesity and anemia among students as well as tackling stunted growth affecting pupils younger than 5. The National Nutrition Plan (201730) calls for raising nutritional awareness, stressing that nutrition is crucial to the national health and quality of life as well as social and economic development. A slew of measures were listed in the new plan, including raising standards of nutrition, perfecting studies on nutritional sciences and nurturing expertise. Legislation on nutrition as well as policy studies will be enhanced. The plan aims to set up a comprehensive nationwide assessment system for nutritional standards by 2020. At the same time, a more comprehensive shared-data system will be established to benefit residents. Assessment on nutrition and food safety will also be strengthened through surveys, especially for iodine-related nutritional plans. In addition, data will be shared to benefit residents. Knowledge of nutritional health will be a particular highlight, the plan said.

Medical education reform guideline issued

The State Council’s General Office issued a guideline on deepening reforms on medical education, to ensure a more comprehensive medical policy environment by 2020 with better medical expertise. Efforts will be enhanced through four aspects. First, the government will accelerate steps in establishing a standardized training system for medical expertise. Second, a more enabling structure between supply and demand for medical expertise will be in the pipeline. Third, systematic innovation is needed between teaching and medical training and fourth, the government will offer more incentives to medical professionals. According to the guideline, medical schools and institutions are required to improve enrollment and work to attract better-qualified stu-

dents. Reform on medical education needs to be further implemented, especially in clinical and traditional medicine. The new guideline calls for enhanced training for general practitioners and pediatricians in particular, together with training in areas including public health, pharmacy, nursing and rehabilitation. It also stressed building educational bases for clinical training as well as training and education for medical expertise after school. At the same time, medical education in central and western regions will be improved, the guideline said.

tered will be canceled. Some other handling fees will also be canceled, such as for reporting card losses. The announcements were made public through websites and mobile applications from all commercial banks.

en in central and western China, as well as the labor force in their 40s or 50s. About 28 million people will be working in the household service industry, the guideline says, laying a solid ground for the industry’s longterm development.

Measures to improve household services

Returned workers to get business help

Fees for some ATM withdrawals canceled

The National Development and Research Commission and China Banking Regulatory Commission have announced that handling fees for withdrawing cash in a different city from where the card is regis-

The National Development and Reform Commission has released a guideline on improving household services for 2017 together with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Commerce, as well as the Ministry of Information and Industrial Technology. The guideline makes clear a 20 percent increase in business revenue, and household service industries are expected to play a bigger role in absorbing the labor force from rural areas, urban laid-off workers, wom-

The National Development and Reform Commission has recently launched applications for pilot regions to support migrant workers who return to their hometowns for entrepreneurship, an effort in line with China’s modern urbanization. County-level regions with a comparatively large population of migrant workers, college graduates and veterans are encouraged to apply for piloting policies through recommendation of provincial level government. The government will also, to an extent, favor regions with comparatively heavy tasks in phasing out excess capacity and alleviating poverty. The document also stressed local governments need to fasten steps in nurturing a sound business environment for workers returning to hometowns for entrepreneurship, improving public services while widening financing channels. ZHANG YUE

Green inspections The Ministry of Environmental Protection found that 80 out of 366 companies that were inspected were violating environment protection rules as of July 13. The result came after inspections in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and other nearby areas from July 7-13. A total of 44 companies violated environmental protection rules for volatile organic compound emissions. The ministry started the inspection on air pollution control in the Beijing-TianjinHebei region about four months ago. The past week found 851 companies out of 2,954 reviewed were violating environmental protection rules due to incomplete facilities or excessive emissions. Some 131 companies were found to have no equipment for pollution treatment, while 100 companies had pollution treatment facilities that were not functioning. Some companies in Hebei are still operating despite previous bans or warnings. Student subsidies The Education Ministry has responded to a query on the release and supervision of financial subsidies. A college student from Northeast China inquired of the Ministry of Education why students were still not informed about how universities are fully releasing subsidies. The Ministry of Education responded in detail about the component of student subsidies for college students. First, the government helps those families in need to apply for loans from local banks to pay for tuition. Second, if the student fails to get adequate loans for tuition, the university offers channels for enrollment where his or her tuition and accommodation fees can be paid later. Third, both the government and universities offer a variety of scholarships or work-study programs through which students can earn money to pay their tuition. Details about scholarships are also available online. Mine conditions probed The State Administration of Work Safety conducted a random inspection on conditions on 18 non-metal mines and 10 tailing ponds, which contain the by-products from the mines, in Henan, Liaoning and Jiangxi provinces during the current flood season. Problems found include inadequate safety protection, lack of work supervision and detection systems as well as inadequate accident-monitoring measures. The administration requested that 15 mines as well as nine tailing ponds must improve work safety facilities within a required timeframe. Another four companies found with severe work safety shortcomings were asked to stop production.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

COMMENT Opposition legislators’ reaction hypocritical Tony Kwok decries the antics of LegCo members, some of whom are lawyers and should know better, following the High Court’s disqualiﬁcation of four over improper oath-taking

he opposition parties’ reaction to the High Court’s ruling on the disqualification of four Legislative Council members exposes their hypocrisy in claiming to be the guardian of the rule of law in Hong Kong! TVB should be praised for repeatedly showing in their news, while reporting the court’s ruling, the recordings of the four’s frivolous antics when they should have taken their oaths of office in an appropriate manner befitting the solemnity of the occasion on Oct 12 last year. Anyone with a fair and objective mind, on watching the recordings, would fully agree with the court’s conclusion that these four had failed to take their oaths “solemnly, sincerely, and in its entirety” in accordance with the law. Hence they had only themselves to blame for having their LegCo positions stripped. Little wonder their protest outside the Central Government Offices that same evening attracted so few supporters. It is interesting to note that the presiding judge, Justice Thomas Au Hing-cheung, is a law graduate of the University of Hong Kong and was formerly a member of the Civic Party, membership of which he gave up upon being appointed a judge. Accordingly, the opposition parties can hardly argue that his judgment is politically motivated. According to many legal experts, his judgment is flawless and there is little chance the disqualified LegCo members can win in their appeal to the Court of Final Appeal. The blatant acts of contempt of court by the four disqualified LegCo members and their supporters in helping them to gatecrash a Finance Committee meeting are an affront to LegCo and our rule of law. They even ignored the Finance Committee chairman’s order to leave the conference room, forcing the committee meeting to be abruptly stopped and adjourned. This in itself was clearly

T O N Y KW O K The author is the former deputy commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and currently an adjunct professor of HKU SPACE and an international anti-corruption consultant. an act of breach of the injunction order and prosecutable for contempt of court. On the following day, when the Finance Committee reconvened, they attempted once again to force their way into the conference room. This time, their opposition colleagues actually attempted to form a phalanx to help them gain entry. They are all now clearly either conspiring or aiding and abetting in the offense of contempt of court. It is astonishing to note that among them are LegCo members from the legal profession. They should have known better! I recall vividly how the Hong Kong Bar Association and Civic Party had vociferously condemned certain Hong Kong citizens who criticized the courts’ absurdly lenient sentences over offenses committed during the “Occupy Central” campaign. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, they have the gall to attack a most respected High Court judge for his transparently fair judgment. It is a sad reﬂection of their double standards and hypocrisy. This is particularly inexcusable for those who are barristers or solicitors, and we should all lodge a complaint to the Bar Association and Law Society of Hong Kong over their unprofessional and illegal behavior, suggesting disciplinary proceedings for breach of the injunction order, contempt of court and bringing their profession into disrepute. Indeed the deliberately contemptuous and distorted way of oath-taking by the four disqualiﬁed LegCo members in itself is a total disregard of the legality of the oath and our rule

of law, and should have been condemned outright by all legal professionals, but they have kept mum up to now. And yet, they have the temerity to preach to us from time to time about the sanctity of rule of law! If the government is serious about promoting the rule of law, the Department of Justice and the police should consider charging these LegCo members for contempt of court. The Finance Committee is currently in its final session in approving some very important government finance projects, including the HK$3.6 billion additional education funding which needs to be approved now, so it can be implemented in the coming school term in September to the immense benefit of the teachers and students. Those students who have passed the Diploma of Secondary Education benchmark and apply for self-financing degree programs are expected to be given a HK$30,000 grant each in the coming university term. But if the project cannot be approved by the Finance Committee in its final session, one can imagine the financial hardship that may befall these students and their parents. Let’s not use our needy citizens’ welfare as a political football. The next Finance Committee meeting would serve as a litmus test. The Finance Committee chairman exercised restraint and compromise, perhaps too much, in adjourning two sessions, causing a huge loss of valuable time in discussing this education fund. In the next meeting on Wednesday he must be prepared to take tough measures to ensure meaningful debates take place. If opposition LegCo members continue to behave irresponsibly as in the last two meetings, it will just show that they never had the public’s best interests at heart. It would then be fully justified for the pro-establishment camp to take advantage of the current majority in LegCo to amend the LegCo procedural rules to stop future filibustering and other obstructive tactics in the chamber.

Editor’s note: China Daily Hong Kong Edition has launched a photo-sharing campaign at Instagram. You can share your photos by tagging #hk24hr, and we’ll choose the best ones to publish in the newspaper.

City lights

A man toting an iconic John Lennon “New York” T-shirt contemplates stepping out on to a rainy city street from an MTR exit in Tsim Sha Tsui. @SUNNY_LIU / INSTAGRAM

C H I N A DA I LY H O N G KO N G E D I T I O N

TO T H E P O I N T S TA F F W R I T E R

Flu logjam highlights hospital woes When Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor paid a visit to the jam-packed accident and emergency (A&E) ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on Sunday evening it showed not only her new style of governance — quick response to people’s livelihood issues — but also the gravity of the situation. The latest ﬂu crisis, which has killed 157 people so far this summer, is putting huge pressure on public hospitals. On Monday, those admitted into QEH through its A&E ward had to wait for more than 24 hours on average. Different reasons have been given to account for why the summer ﬂu peak has wreaked havoc on our medical system. The most talked-about factor is manpower shortage – an old problem worsening as time goes by. A Hospital Authority (HA) annual report issued early this year showed that, despite all the newly graduated doctors and nurses joining the HA every year, there will be a shortfall of more than 800 doctors and 1,300 nurses in 10 years’ time because of natural loss. In the Report of Strategic Review on Healthcare Manpower Planning and Professional Development released on June 14, the manpower problem in the medical sector was dealt with. But there has been criticism that the target of this report is still not sufficient to really solve the long-term manpower shortage. Some members of the medical sector have

cited insufficient resources as the main reason for the shortage. Lam pledged on Sunday that if it is a lack of resources, the government would give its full support. But she admitted money might not be the ultimate solution to the problem. We certainly must train more doctors to man our public medical facilities but that takes a long time. To shorten queues in A&E wards, we must look at options that could take effect much faster. The HA is already reshuffling resources within its system, redeploying medical staff from other departments to A&E wards and employing part-time staff to alleviate pressure. But that still seems insufficient. Meanwhile, help might be available outside the HA system. There are private clinics and outpatient departments of private hospitals in the city that provide 24-hour medical services. Health authorities could encourage more such services and subsidize those who seek urgent medical consultations there. The advantage of this arrangement is that it could handle seasonal fluctuations without unnecessarily bloating the HA establishment during non-peak seasons. But it is always true that “prevention is better than cure”. The government is providing a very comprehensive flu vaccination program and we should take full advantage of it. Stopping the flu virus before it could inflict harm is the best solution.

Mid-stream revision over MPF offset unfair to existing businesses

hen I wrote on the Mandatory Provident Fund long-service and severance pay offset issue earlier (Dec 28, 2016), how the special administrative region government was going to tackle the subject was still unclear. Today the announcement has been made and it turns out that the version being circulated at the time was indeed the policy package adopted by the government. The government proposes to disallow the offset as of the first day of this year but within the 10 years from that date it will help alleviate employers’ burden through a subsidy, which amounts to HK$7.9 billion. After the transition period, employers will shoulder their new burdens completely, although these are to be reduced by revising the severance and longservice payment formula, which will use half of the last month’s salary instead of two-thirds as before, to be multiplied by the number of years of service. The proposed policy package, already passed by the Executive Council, as expected met with anger on the part of both employers and employees, because employers hold the government to task for breaking the promise to allow offset, on the basis of which they agreed to the new contributions as required by the MPF Schemes Ordinance, while employees hold the government to task for undermining their established benefits and terms of employment. In my article last year, my simple proposal was just for the government to take over the burden resulting from abolishing the offset. The fact is that within the 15 years since 2001, the cumulative offset amount was a mere HK$3.18 billion. This figure is often less than the value of “sweeteners” given to Hong Kong citizens in a single year when the financial secretary discovered the budget surplus was bigger than expected. For this reason, I argued that since the government had promised the business sector it would allow the MPF offset in order to win its support to pass the MPF bill, it should not renege on that promise. At the same time, we really should not expect labor would accept that conditions of work should worsen over time. In any case, employees do expect that they should benefit from economic development. Dashing this expectation will harm employees’ sense of engagement and motivation. An objection to this “generous” use of taxpayers’ money to pay for the transition to a world without MPF severance pay offset is that the cost to the government down the road could be unbearable. Although the total amount of money involved over the first 15 years of the MPF’s history was a mere HK$3.16 billion, the amount could become unbearable into the indefinite future. Against this worry I suggest we can follow the government’s suggestion to set a date to contain the cost. But this date is not a date to affect businesses already in existence. The date to set is to require businesses set up after that date to be entirely on their own in footing the bill both for MPF contributions and severance pay. This means only new businesses will be affected. Entrepreneurs will take the cost of the MPF and possible severance pay as part of their normal business cost. If they figure their incomes cannot cover these costs

H O L O K- S A N G The author is dean of business at Chu Hai College of Higher Education.

We need good capital-labor relations in order to promote our competitiveness. The government’s investment in smoothing the transition to a world without the offset is an investment in capital-labor relations and deserves serious consideration. they have the option not to go into business. But for existing businesses, if the government had approved the offset, that is what they came to expect. Changing rules in the middle of the game is just not right. Thus the cost borne by taxpayers to defray the unexpected cost of disallowing the offset is contained. But some may still argue that the cost is still big, and businesses should expect that policies can change. My answer to that is that most of the existing businesses face a more difficult business environment now than when the offset was ﬁrst allowed. If they had needed the offset then, they would need the offset even more now. Because of this they are going to ﬁght to the end. An eternal struggle between employers and employees will hurt productivity and social harmony. We must not forget that these costs are real costs to society. The longstanding grievances of labor groups and the discontent of struggling businesses may end up hurting Hong Kong in a myriad of ways, not least the trustworthiness of the government. The exchange of words between employee and employer groups also suggests capital-labor relations are likely to sour. Honorary President of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Ho Saichu insisted that the offset was nothing like washing away the MPF funds, and that under the offset the MPF funds were still there, but part of that was taken out as severance pay. “Employees could put them back in if they want.” This kind of language is unlikely to help improve capital-labor relations. We need good capital-labor relations in order to promote our competitiveness. The government’s investment in smoothing the transition to a world without the offset is an investment in capital-labor relations and deserves serious consideration.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

COMMENT

*%( " L %& $ %$ China Daily Hong Kong Edition

EDITORIAL

Growth momentum even stronger with reforms

Lin Min

arly this year, China watchers expressed concerns that the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy might start to weaken in the second quarter. However, the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics show such concerns were unfounded, and the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second-largest economy remains resilient. The economy expanded by 6.9 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the same as in the first quarter, according to the figures released by the NBS on Monday. Even more encouraging, key indicators, such as industrial output and consumption, reveal that improvements are being made in adjusting the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic structure. Investment in high-tech industries, for example, increased by 21.5 percent, 12.9 percentage points higher than overall investment growth, while retail sales of consumer goods grew 10.4 percent year-on-year, up from 10 percent in the first quarter. And the service sector, which already accounts for 54.1 percent of the overall economy, expanded 7.7 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year. According to the NBS, domestic consumption now accounts for 63.4 percent of GDP growth, which highlights the progress China is making in its bid to make innovation and domestic demand the drivers of economic growth. Considering that this performance has been achieved against the backdrop of efforts to reduce excess production capacity and cut corporate debt levels, the figures are not only impressive, but also suggest the country has managed to successfully strike a balance in its bid to promote economic growth and restructuring. Looking to the future, China will continue to press ahead with its tasks of reducing excessive production capacity, cutting real estate stocks, and lowering corporate debt levels, while further strengthening its environmental protection and water conservancy efforts. Although policymakers will need to remain alert to the possibility of slower growth in the third quarter, there can be little doubt that the country is on course to achieve its pre-set GDP growth target of â&#x20AC;&#x153;around 6.5 percentâ&#x20AC;? for the year. With its growth target attainable, and the economy maintaining stable and coordinated development, the leadership has more room to push ahead with economic restructuring and reforms. Financial reform, for example, is on the cards, after the country consolidated its financial regulatory power at the newly-concluded National Financial Work Conference, which ended on Saturday. And further headway in advancing the necessary reforms will in turn make the Chinese economy more efficient, competitive and sustainable in the coming years.

TO THE POINT

Financing the real economy

hat the evolution of the supply side lags behind that of the demand side is the hard nut to crack for Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy to develop in a healthy manner. This is true for the financial industry, which is supposed to provide financial service to the real economy in an efficient manner, as the weekend National Financial Work Conference has noted. However, it has long been difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to get funds from financial institutions. When it comes to providing loans or other financial services, financial institutions need to work out ways to make sure their loans go to where the money is really needed and where the money will make a difference to the production of needed products. They should abandon the fantasy that their old profit model, which is largely based on the State-controlled differences in deposit and loan interest rates, can be sustained. Given the slower economic growth that is the new normal for Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy, it is irrational and irresponsible for the banks to make profits by using their money in the form of financial derivatives that circulate within areas far away from the real economy. The need to restructure the financial industry is no less urgent than upgrading the real economy. The financial institutions should form a multi-layer financial system that boasts comprehensive financing functions, with effective supervision over financial risks and protection of investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; legal rights and interests. The days when the financial institutions could profit from the toil of others no longer exist. Now their profits will depend on how well they serve their customers, and how attractive their services and products are compared with those of their competitors. The State-owned large banks as well as small and medium-sized banks and private financing agencies must expedite their strategic transition, with a view to improving the quality of their services and efficiency. All financial institutions should speed up the transformation of their business models to reduce the cost of financing the real economy and create value in the service of economic and social development. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; PEOPLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAILY

OPINION LINE

Time to change the minimum wage system in line with current realities

Authorities should keep an open mind about sleep cabins

AS OF SATURDAY, 11 provincial regions, about one-third of the total, had raised their minimum wage this year. But the average growth rate of about 5 percent is a record low in recent years. Gmw.cn comments:

A BUSINESS in Zhongguancun, a technology hub for startups in Beijing, which offered capsule-like rooms on a short-term basis, has been ordered to suspend operations, raising questions about the future of such hotels. Beijing News commented on Monday:

After the adjustments, the highest minimum monthly wage is 2,300 yuan ($340) in Shanghai, and the lowest is 1,000 yuan in South Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. In fact, the average growth in the minimum wage nationwide has dropped markedly since the 22 percent in 2011. The lower minimum wage hike is understandable, given the overall economic situation. Take Guangdong province for example. Although Guangdongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP was $1.17 trillion last year, similar to that of Mexico, which is ranked the 15th-largest economy in the world, the province faces a great challenge transforming and upgrading its labor-intensive industry. That the Guangdong provincial government recently announced it will raise the minimum wage once every three years from this year, instead of once

every two years, reflects the challenges the largest provincial economy in China faces adjusting its economic model. China implemented a minimum wage system on March 1, 2004, in which the lowest wage benchmark is raised at least once every two years. Guangdong is obviously violating the minimum wage rules by proposing to increase the minimum wage in the province every three years instead of every two. But this shows it is time to amend the rules, which have remained unchanged for nearly 15 years, so they reflect the global economic realities. A similar decline in the wage growth trend can be observed in the United Kingdom and the United States. The minimum wage standards should be settled according to local consumer price index changes, economic growth momentum and the financial resources of the local government.

Weigh the pros and cons of new things URBAN PATROL OFFICERS IN NANCHANG, East Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jiangxi province, have impounded a total of 26,000 short-time hire bikes illegally parked on the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s streets. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Monday: The provincial capitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tough response to the illegally parked bikes has reignited the debate over how to manage the station-less, GPS-enabled hire bikes that have become a common sight in Chinese cities. Some argue that the authorities should adopt an open attitude toward the bikes as they are part of the sharing economy, and the Nanchang urban patrol officers risk a serious waste of resources by withholding that many bikes. Others argue the bikes are a nuisance and are just a new business model for hiring bikes rather than part of a sharing economy. While the authorities should keep an open mind to new things, they should not turn a blind eye to their downsides either. Hailed as a near-perfect solution to the last-mile dilemma facing urban commuters, the influx of short-time hire bikes has not only resulted in them

being chaotically parked but also caused safety risks in many cities. It will be just a matter of time before they take over the sidewalks if local governments do not intervene. Neither the bike-providers nor their enthusiastic investors have solved the parking problem. They need to cooperate with the local authorities and abide by the new regulations that have been introduced. On their part, the authorities should implement the rules flexibly and proactively. The traffic police in Shenzhen have set a good example by temporarily banning 13,615 people who violated traffic regulations from using shared bikes. The police have already notified the bike-renting companies to deactivate the user accounts of these users for at least a week.

Places offering WiFi-enabled sleep cabins that are sanitized by means of ultraviolet light, which users can check in and check out by using a smartphone, have been gaining popularity in many cities. Not least because the charges are reasonable: 10 yuan ($1.5) per half-hour for peak times and 6 yuan for every 30 minutes during offpeak times. Reminiscent of capsule hotels, the places offering such sleep cabins target urban white collar workers, many of whom work overtime, who want a place to take a nap during the day. Why the Zhongguancun-based business was shut down remains unclear. Local authorities have not taken further actions against other short-time sleep cabins elsewhere. They are right to bide their time instead of rushing to impose a complete ban on the budding service. It is still early to say whether such sleeping cabins are a good idea or not, as they are a new business model. Most sleep cabins are inside office buildings, and their air conditioning and soundproofing are flawed. Whether users are allowed to spend the night after the buildings are closed and who is responsible for their safety are yet to be determined. More importantly, the licenses required to operate sleep cabins may be tricky to draw up. That, of course, calls for up-to-date, flexible policymaking to ensure the service is properly regulated.

C O N TA C T U S

HOT WORDS

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Financial Stability and Development Committee under the State Council

President Xi Jinping said during the twoday National Financial Work Conference, which ended on Saturday, that China will set up the Financial Stability and Development

Committee under the State Council. The establishment of the committee will help strengthen oversight of the financial system to contain risks. Financial security is a significant part of national security, and the government should take the initiative to monitor, warn against and deal with systemic financial risks in a timely manner, with the central bank playing a stronger role in macro-prudential management. The government will also enhance coordination and connectivity among the financial supervisory organizations and promote the

sharing of information. Reforms of the financial regulation framework will be based on Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s domestic conditions and all financial businesses will be put under supervision. According to experts, the government will further enhance financial regulation and promote Online institutional regulation Scan it for to prevent financial more hot words. risks.

10 VIEWS

Tuesday, July 18, 2017 CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

Zhang Zhixin

Dialogue can reduce trade frictions

he first round of a comprehensive economic dialogue between China and the United States will be held on July 19 in Washington under the co-chairmanship of Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang, and US Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. It will be one of the many first rounds of future dialogues, which also include those on law enforcement, cybersecurity, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The decision to hold the comprehensive economic dialogue on Wednesday was confirmed by President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, where Xi told Trump the 100-Day Action Plan on China-US economic cooperation has made notable progress and both sides are working on a one-year cooperation

plan. Compared with the annual US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue held between 2009 and 2016, the upcoming dialogue will focus more on concrete negotiations and aim to “get things done” before due time. Last week, more than 20 enterprises from both sides signed agricultural transaction contracts worth at least $5 billion in Des Moines, Iowa, as China has reopened its market to US beef products for the first time since 2003. Under the contracts Chinese enterprises will import 12.53 million metric tons of soybeans and 371 tons of pork and beef from the US, which in turn is expected to import Chinese poultry products. These early gains explain what the 100-Day Action Plan, which was agreed by Xi and Trump just three months ago, has the potential to achieve. They also indicate that the Trump administration

These early gains explain what the 100-Day Action Plan, which was agreed by Xi and Trump just three months ago, has the potential to achieve. wants a result-oriented relationship with Beijing. The July 19 meeting will likely facilitate negotiations on agricultural exchanges, financial services, investment and energy, all

key areas of the 100-Day Action Plan, which is proving to be more constructive and fruitful than some skeptics were ready to accept. Flagship deals inked under the framework of the action plan have helped both countries avert a possible trade war and restore their faith in trade cooperation. They have also set an apt example for the yearlong cooperation program. Beijing’s pursuit of free trade is resonating in other economies, too. Earlier this month the European Union and Japan concluded an outline free trade deal in Brussels, sending a message to the international community that two of the world’s biggest economic powers will uphold free trade even if the US seems to have taken the opposite course. The EU-Japan FTA, which would account for 30 percent of the global GDP, would allow Japan to export more cars to the Europe-

an markets and the EU to export more farming products to Japan. It could also prompt Trump to reconsider his “America First” credo and protectionist policies, as well as help China and the US to finalize their bilateral investment treaty. China-US relations, in essence, are both about cooperation and competition, as are their economic ties. And the comprehensive economic dialogue is expected to reduce the side effects of competition and trade frictions, while instilling in both sides a stronger sense of trust and understanding, as trade remains the cornerstone of one of the world’s most important bilateral relationships. The author is head of American Political Studies at the Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. The article is an excerpt from his interview with China Daily’s Cui Shoufeng.

Qiao Xinsheng

Protecting juveniles from game addiction

rticle 19 of the General Rules of Civil Law says: “A minor attaining the age of 8 is a person with limited capacity for civil conduct (or limited disposing capacity), who shall be represented by his or her statutory agent in performing juridical acts or whose performance of juridical acts shall be consented to or ratified by his or her statutory agent, but may alone perform juridical acts which purely benefit the minor or are commensurate with his or her age and intelligence.” Disposing capacity means the mental ability or state of mind at which a person should possess to prepare a valid will. It is also known as testamentary capacity. And Article 20 of the law says: “A minor under the age of 8 is a person without capacity for civil conduct, who shall be represented in performing civil juridical acts by his or her statutory agent.” According to the two articles, if a legal dispute were to arise

over juveniles’ addiction to online games, their statutory agent should perform civil juridical acts in their interests. And any contract a child becomes a part of or the payments he or she makes will be valid under the law only after his or her legal representative confirms it. Which means game providers cannot force a child’s legal representative to take up the financial responsibility of the child’s actions under any circumstances. This also means, if children buy online game equipment using their parents’ bankcards, game providers and software developers have the responsibility to check who exactly is making the payment, even if they have to use special technology for that. But some game providers and software developers say it is difficult to determine a user’s identity in the virtual world, and therefore they cannot be blamed for children’s addiction to online games and the money they squan-

der on them. But a series of laws and regulations has made real-name registration mandatory. Besides, we can learn from the rules of countries that require game providers and software developers to design targeted protective measures for juveniles. For example, public libraries in developed economies such as the United States have installed special software to prevent children from indulging in online games or browsing porn websites. In fact, latest technologies can be employed to identify online game users, so game providers can use the accumulated data to protect children against addiction. To be honest, game providers such as Tencent have started using technical measures to curb children’s gaming time. Game providers and software developers cannot absolve themselves of the responsibility of employing effective technical

measures to protect children against online game addiction. If they don’t do so, they should be held responsible for the legal consequences. I have two suggestions in this regard. First, the authorities should further strengthen the Cybersecurity Law. Only stricter regulations, some of which could be applied to specific cases, can prevent software developers and game providers from taking advantage of the legal loopholes to continue their business as usual. Second, as the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress is reviewing the draft “Electronic Commerce Law”, I suggest online games and game equipment be brought under the purview of the law, making it mandatory for software developers and game providers to closely inspect the users and purchasers and thus disallow juveniles to “trade” in virtual property. If the game developers and pro-

viders fail to do so, they should be held accountable for the consequences. Only when strict rules on the legal responsibilities of game providers and software developers are formulated can they be made to adopt technical measures to protect children from addiction, which forces some of them to use their parents’ bankcards to make payments. It is equally important for parents to fulfill their duties toward their children. And parents should always remember what Article 34 of the General Rules of Civil Law says: “A guardian failing to perform the duty of guardianship or infringing upon the ward’s lawful rights and interests shall assume legal liability.” The author is a professor of law at Wuhan-based Zhongnan University of Economics and Law.

CAI MENG / CHINA DAILY

Chu Fuling

Reforms can fortify old-age insurance plan

hina has established an institutional old-age insurance framework covering workers and residents. The employees’ basic pension insurance system combines social funds and personal accounts for 380 million workers nationwide. It has also established a basic old-age insurance system that covers 500 million urban and rural residents. Together, the two old-age insurance plans cover 880 million people. Based on the estimation that China has about 1 billion people above the age of 16, the country’s old-age insurance plans’ coverage rate is about 88 percent. In 2008, the accumulated balance of the two old-age insurance funds was 992.5 billion yuan ($149.07 billion), which increased to 4.40 trillion yuan last year, indicating the strong payment capacity of old-age insurance funds. Although in some provinces and regions the growth rate of basic

old-age insurance funds has been lower than the growth rate of expenditure, the reverse is true in others. Which means the accumulated balance of China’s basic oldage insurance funds will continue to rise. The basic pension insurance funds of enterprises play a dominant role in the funding of China’s basic old-age insurance system. According to last year’s data, even if the authorities were to stop collecting old-age insurance premium today, the existing old-age pension funds could still pay pension nationwide for more than 17 consecutive months. Hence, experts generally believe China has enough capacity when it comes to paying old-age pension. As the balance of national basic old-age insurance fund has risen to more than 4 trillion yuan, there is no reason to fear about a shortage of pension insurance funds. But this assurance should not stop

... reforms in the sector should be deepened ... to guarantee the sustainable and healthy development of the system. the authorities from taking measures for the sustainable and healthy development of the basic old-age insurance system. China’s aging society, increasing pressure of economic downturn and slowing growth rate of fiscal revenue mean it will face rising payment pressure on its pension insurance fund in the future. But

the authorities have taken several measures to cope with this pressure. First, they have established a national social security strategic reserve fund with a market value of 2 trillion yuan to supplement employees’ basic pension insurance funds and cope with the subsequent pressure of pension payment necessitated by a rapidly aging society. Second, they have also established an investment mechanism for employees’ basic pension insurance funds, in order to preserve and increase the value of pension insurance funds. Third, they have allocated partial State-owned capital to make up for the cost of transforming the pension insurance system. And fourth, the central leadership has asked governments at all levels to take up the responsibility of paying full old-age pension in time. Now, the authorities should

further improve the basic pension insurance system for employees. Social pooling should be raised from the provincial to the national level so as to create a fair competition environment for enterprises and correct the imbalance among provinces and regions. Also, the authorities should gradually raise the retirement age, unify pension insurance premiums, and take necessary measures to solve the problems related to the premium payment period. In other words, although the old-age insurance system is improving and the old-age insurance fund is being effectively operated, reforms in the sector should be deepened and active measures taken to guarantee the sustainable and healthy development of the system. The author is director of the Social Security Research Center affiliated to the Central University of Finance and Economics.

Stick to openness while defending Paris Agreement

Fu Jing The author is deputy chief of China Daily European Bureau. fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

fter US President Donald Trump said he would pull out of the Paris agreement on climate change, French President Emmanuel Macron replied that he was on a mission to “make our planet great again”, a play on Trump’s catchphrase, “Make America Great Again”. Macron has met Trump’s rejection with a celebration of the signing of the historic agreement, which 153 out of 197 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have ratified. In spite of Trump’s antipathy to the consensus on climate change, which seeks to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions between 2020 and 2030, Macron has adopted a pragmatic approach by engaging him and trying to bring him back on board, after the other leaders of the G20 agreed in Hamburg that the Paris Agreement is irreversible. Macron has recently planed to organize a climate summit to mark the second anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on Dec 12 in France. The French president has even been rewarded with positive noises from Trump during his visit to Paris on July 13-14 and the concession that “something could be done” on the issue. Macron’s next task should be to ensure that no further countries follow the US and pull out of the Paris Agreement. For example, Canada followed the US’ lead by abandoning the Kyoto Protocol.

While climate is high on Macron’s agenda, the French president has also said he wants to alter the regulation on trade and investment ... Macron must accept the reality that openness has already benefited his country, the EU and the world ... But Macron is proving to be a stout defender of the Paris Agreement. Within weeks of his presidency, Macron has shown his pragmatism by actively engaging China, the US, Germany and other global players and extolling the benefits of coordinated action on climate change. China and France are united in defending the Paris Agreement. He has also invited US climate researchers to France and even focused on climate finance, which has long been an issue that needed to be addressed by rich countries. While climate is high on Macron’s agenda, the French president has also said he wants to alter the regulation on trade and investment. Macron needs to be very cautious in shaping his vision of Europe. Right now, he is trying to tighten scrutiny of foreign investment activities in the European Union, which is signing free trade agreements with some of its partners. For politicians, market protection and protectionism seem very similar but the former is acceptable, while the latter is one step too far. Macron must accept the reality that openness has already benefited his country, the EU and the world by promoting technology transfer, capital injection and inward investment. For the EU, its priority should be to trim bureaucracy, instead of beefing up its regulations. The US also scrutinizes investment in the name of national security. But this mainly works as a barrier and sometimes a useful card to play. The EU, a global leader of climate protection, free trade and an open economy, should not follow such old-fashioned practices. What’s more, the essence of the Paris Agreement is global development paradigm change, and ample finance and technology transfers from the rich countries can help less-developing countries avoid development traps and environmental woes. France has played a major role in defending international cooperation on climate change. It should approach trade with the same spirit. If so, the numerous goals in the Paris Agreement could be turned into reality faster than expected.

WORLD 11

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Briefly

French govt decries its Nazi past

Lobster love

UNITED KINGDOM

Govt seeks to tackle acid attacks Britain will look at tougher punishments for people who attack others using acid, interior minister Amber Rudd said on Sunday, after a spate of incidents in London in recent months. Five acid attacks on moped riders in less than 90 minutes across east London on Thursday left several people with facial burns. The announcement came as figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council show that more than 400 acid or corrosive substance attacks were carried out in the six months up to April across police force areas in England and Wales.

Macron calls for Israeli-Palestinian talks in favor of two-state solution

AFGHANISTAN

Civilian deaths hit new high, UN says The people of the war-torn country continue to bear the brunt of the grinding conflict with civilian deaths at their worst since records began, the United Nations said on Monday. Deaths in the capital Kabul accounted for nearly 20 percent of the toll, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan report, which covers the first half of the year. The majority of the victims were killed by anti-government forces, including the Taliban and the Islamic State. CANADA

Fires drive thousands from their homes Forest fires caused by strong winds have been sweeping over the province of British Columbia in western Canada for more than a week, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. The government has declared a state of emergency to deal with the situation since July 7. Currently, 3,000 firefighters and 203 aircraft are involved in battling the fires, while this operation has cost the government more than $80 million. MYANMAR

Doctors separate conjoined twin boys Doctors have successfully performed a surgery to separate conjoined twins at the Children’s Hospital in Yangon, an official report said on Monday. The operation was carried out on Sunday on the twins — Sa Hkam and Sa Ngin, who were born in Kengtung, eastern Shan state two years ago. The boys were joined at the navel. It was the sixth surgical operation on conjoined twins at the hospital. EGYPT

Man dies in raid on land squatters A man was killed and dozens others were wounded on Sunday in clashes between policemen and squatters on state land at a district in Giza near Cairo, officials and witnesses said. “A citizen was killed and 19 other civilians were injured in clashes between residents and policemen during a campaign to remove the encroachments on stateowned lands at Giza’s Warraq island in the Nile River,” the Health Ministry said in a statement. The ministry sent 15 ambulances to the scene that took the injured people to nearby hospitals. UNITED STATES

Rare sword from Civil War-era found The sword that belonged to the commanding officer of the first all-black regiment raised in the North during the Civil War has been recovered after being lost to history for more than 150 years. The Britishmade sword carried into battle by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was stolen after he was killed during the 54th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry’s doomed attack on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, in 1863, a battle portrayed in the 1989 Oscar-winning movie Glory. REUTERS—XINHUA— AFP—AP

Women pose for photos during the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival in San Pedro, California, on Sunday.

ZHAO HANRONG / XINHUA

Flash flood leaves 9 dead in Arizona TONTO NATIONAL FOREST, Arizona — Adults, teens and children as young as 2 were enjoying a summer afternoon by cooling off in an Arizona creek when the gentle waters turned deadly. The group from the Phoenix and Flagstaff areas had met on Saturday for a day trip along a popular swimming hole near Payson, about 160 kilometers northeast of the capital. They set up lounge chairs not knowing an intense thunderstorm was dumping heavy rainfall just upstream in the Tonto National Forest. The storm unleashed 90-centimeter-high floodwaters, dark with ash from a wildfire, onto the unsuspecting family and friends. The torrent carried away tree branches and other debris and left nine people dead. Searchers, including 40 people on foot and others in a helicopter, recovered the bodies of five children and four adults. Authorities did not identify them. A 13-year-old boy from the same group was still missing on Sunday.

Disa Alexander was hiking to the swimming area where Ellison Creek and East Verde River converge when the water suddenly surged. Video she posted to social media showed torrents of water surging through jagged canyons carved in Arizona’s signature red rock. “I could have just died!” Alexander exclaimed on the video. She spotted a man holding a baby and clinging to a tree. Nearby, his wife was also in a tree.AboyAlexanderdescribed as the couple’s son was on the rocks above the water. Had they been swept downstream, they would have been sent over a 6-meter waterfall, Alexander said. Alexander and others tried to reach them but couldn’t. Fortunately help was close by. Some rescuers were already near the swimming hole after getting a call to help someone who had suffered a bad allergic reaction, according to Detective Sergeant David Hornung of the Gila County Sheriff’s Department. When they arrived at the

Rescuers search along the banks of the East Verde River for victims of a flash flood in Payson, Arizona, on Sunday. RALPH FRESO / ASSOCIATED PRESS

scene, “they heard someone screaming for help and saw a man clinging to a rock”, said Hornung, who added that the man was safely rescued. “Then they heard other people calling for help.” Four people were rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment of hypothermia. Some 40 rescuers in bright orange T-shirts and helmets dotted the green landscape as they combed the waters and banks for the missing boy. A

few brought along specially trained search dogs hoping to find him alive, Hornung said. While Arizona is known for its dryness, it gets bursts of heavy rains during the summer monsoon season. The severe thunderstorm was located in a remote area that had been burned by a recent wildfire. The “burn scar” was one of the reasons the weather service issued the flash flood warning. ASSOCIATED PRESS

UAE minister denies any hacking of Qatar LONDON — The United Arab Emirates was not responsible for an alleged hack of Qatari websites which helped spark a monthlong diplomatic rift with Doha, the UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs said on Monday. Anwar Gargash denied as false a Sunday report by The Washington Post that cited US officials saying the UAE had orchestrated the hack of Qatar’s state news agency. “The Washington Post story today that we actually hacked the Qataris is also not true,” he said. The Emirati embassy in Washington also released a

statement, calling the Post report “false” and insisting that the UAE “had no role whatsoever” in the alleged hacking. “What is true is Qatar’s behavior. Funding, supporting, and enabling extremists from the Taliban to Hamas ... Inciting violence, encouraging radicalization, and undermining the stability of its neighbors,” the statement said. The report quotes unnamed intelligence officials of the United States as saying that senior members of the UAE government discussed the plan on May 23. On the following day, a story appeared on the Qatari News Agency’s website quot-

ing a speech by Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, in which he allegedly praised Iran and said Qatar has a good relationship with Israel. Similarly incendiary statements appeared on the news agency’s Twitter feed. The agency quickly claimed it was hacked and removed the article. But Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt all blocked Qatari media and later severed diplomatic ties. The US State Department declined to comment. The FBI was previously known to be working with Qatar to probe the hacking. The crisis has threatened to complicate the US-led coali-

tion’s fight against the Islamic State group as all participants are US allies and members of the anti-IS coalition. Qatar is home to 10,000 US troops. US President Donald Trump has sided strongly with Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the dispute, publicly backing their contention that Doha is a supporter of extremist groups and a destabilizing force in the Middle East. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson concluded several days of shuttle diplomacy in the Gulf last week, but he departed the region without any public signs of a resolution. AP—REUTERS

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron denounced France’s collaboration in the Holocaust, lashing out on Sunday at those who negate or minimize the country’s role in sending tens of thousands of Jews to their deaths. After he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended a Holocaust commemoration, Macron also called on Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to resume stranded peace talks based on a two-state solution. He said that Israelis and Palestinians should be able to live in recognized, secure borders. “This has been the constant line of French diplomacy and I’m very attached to this. In this regard, France is prepared to support all diplomatic efforts on the basis of the peace parameters recognized by the international community,” he said. Commemorating 75 years since a mass roundup of Jews during the darkest chapter of modern French history, Macron insisted that “it was indeed France that organized this”. “Not a single German” was directly involved, he said, but French police collaborating with the Nazis. Holocaust survivors recounted wrenching stories at the ceremony at the site of Vel d’Hiv stadium outside Paris, where police herded some 13,000 people on July 16-17, 1942, before they were deported to camps. More than 4,000 were children. Fewer than 100 survived. They were among some 76,000 Jews deported from France to Nazi camps. It was a half-century later when then-president Jacques Chirac became the first French leader to acknowledge the state’s role in the Holocaust’s horrors. Macron dismissed arguments by French far right leaders and others that the collaborationist Vichy government didn’t represent France. “It is convenient to see the Vichy regime as born of

It is convenient to see the Vichy regime as born of nothingness ... Yes, it’s convenient, but it is false. We cannot build pride upon a lie.” Emmanuel Macron, French president

nothingness, returned to nothingness. Yes, it’s convenient, but it is false. We cannot build pride upon a lie.”

Anti-Semitism French Jewish leaders hailed Macron’s speech on Sunday even as critics railed at him online, where renewed anti-Semitism has flourished. Macron pledged to fight such racism, and called for thorough investigation into the recent killing of a Parisian woman believed linked to anti-Jewish sentiment. Netanyahu said that “recently we have witnessed a rise of extremist forces that seek to destroy not only the Jews, but of course the Jewish state as well, but well beyond that. ... The zealots of militant Islam, who seek to destroy you, seek to destroy us as well. We must stand against them together.” Pro-Palestinian activists protested Netanyahu’s appearance in Paris, criticizing Jewish settlement policy and the blockade of Gaza. Macron condemned an attacklastweekthatkilledtwo Israeli police officers at a Jerusalem shrine revered by Jews and Muslims, and said he is committed to Israel’s security but warned that continued Jewish settlement construction threatens peace efforts. AP—XINHUA

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron meet at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Sunday. STEPHANE MAHE VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS

Indian lawmakers vote for next president from lowest Dalit caste NEW DELHI — Indian lawmakers voted on Monday to pick the country’s president, who is certain to come from the lowest Dalit caste, in an election seen as strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s grip on power. About 4,900 legislators nationwide voted in what Modi termed a “historic” election to choose the titular head of state. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has nominated Ram Nath Kovind, a 71-year-old former lawyer from the Dalit community. His main rival is Meira Kumar, the nominee of the

Congress-led opposition and also a Dalit. Theresultwillbeannounced on Thursday but Kovind’s victory is almost certain since the BJP said it has the electoral college numbers needed to push its candidate through. The winner of the election will be sworn into office for a five-year term on July 27 and will replace incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee, a political veteran who has held the post since 2012. Members of both houses of the federal parliament and state assemblies across the country can take part in the vote.

“The presidential poll this time is historic. Probably for the first time no party has made any undignified or unwarranted comment on the rival candidate,” Modi said on the eve of the poll. “Every political party has kept in mind the dignity of this election.” It is also historic as it will be the first time the BJP has organized the numerical strength to push through its candidate. India’s prime minister wields executive power, but the president can send back some parliamentary bills for reconsideration and also

plays a guiding role in the process of forming governments.

Modi ally Analysts said Kovind’s election will help Modi tighten his grip on power and accrue political capital by sending an important message to the Dalits, a long-disdained electoral group once known as “untouchables”. It will be only the second time that India has had a Dalit head of state. Dalits, who number around 200 million in the nation of 1.3 billion, are among India’s poorest com-

munities and relegated to the margins of society. Despite legal protection, discrimination is rife and Dalits are routinely denied access to education and other advancement opportunities. On the day of the vote, media reported the case of a Dalit laborer allegedly beaten to death by upper-caste attackers, highlighting the plight of the “untouchable” caste. Modi’s rivals have protested at Kovind’s nomination, citing his association with the radical right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological power behind the BJP.

The opposition nominee Kumar, the daughter of freedom fighter Babu Jagjivan Ram, was a diplomat before entering politics in 1985 and became India’s first woman speaker in 2009. Her nomination, which followed Kovind’s, was seen by many as an opposition attempt to counter Modi’s move to woo Dalits. Dalit support will be key for the BJP before the 2019 general election as the party has been largely shunned by Muslims, who make up about 14 percent of the population. AFP—XINHUA

12 WORLD

Tuesday, July 18, 2017 CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

‘Living tribute’ to flight victims Netherlands will mark third anniversary of MH17 tragedy An indigenous Tarahumara runner takes part in a half marathon along the streets in Guachochi, Mexico, on Sunday. JOSE LUIS GONZALEZ / REUTERS

The indigenous people who are born to run GUACHOCHI, Mico — In old indigenous Latin American cultures, women toil at farming and tackle family duties. Atop this remote Mexican mountain, they also slap on sandals and crush pro athletes on long-distance runs. Talk about extreme sports: the Raramuri people — part of the Aztec family — over five centuries ago fled up the mountains of Chihuahua state to stay safe from Spanish invaders. There they stayed. Over the years they have become cliff-dwellers, often sleeping in caves. But they also are moving their animals along constantly — and as part of their nomadic lifestyle learned to master truly extreme longdistance runs. This year’s Canyons Ultramarathon brought together more than 1,000 competitors from around the world — Russia, Canada, the United States, Ecuador and Spain — to take on the steep slopes of the Sinforosa range of the Tarahumara mountains in the Sierra Madre Occidental. With the wail of “weringa” which means “onward” in their language, runners were off. They battled it out in the men’s and women’s 63-kilometer and 100-kilometer contests from Friday through Sunday. The results: all four races

swept by Raramuri (which means Light of Feet) talent. The course was not some manicured grass pitch; the trail — which follows mountain ridges — is clotted with mud, rocks and even takes runners over a traditional woven suspension bridge. While some competitors were decked out in high-tech gear to absorb sweat or avoid friction, local champions stuck mostly to their traditional gear. It famously includes sandals hand-carved out of old car tires and their centuriesold handwoven shirts, petticoats and scarves, for women, and a slightly lighter outfit for their men. “We really don’t have to do a lot to train. Because since we don’t have cars, we walk or run everywhere,” said Miguel Lara, 27, who won the 100-kilometer race in nine hours and 46 minutes. His record is eight hours and 47 minutes. The locals are attached to tradition, but clearly are not afraid of innovation. At some point in the past, obviously, someone shifted from sandals made of natural materials for running, to recycled tire tread sandals with a light strap. Perhaps Lara’s shoe sponsorship contract could go to Michelin.

AMSTERDAM — A national monument commemorating victims who died three years ago in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is set for a formal opening on Monday. The memorial will be established in Vijfhuizen park near Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, from where flight MH17 took off en route to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014. A total of 298 trees have been planted in the shape of a green ribbon, with each bearing names of the victims who died on the flight. Families of the victims will gather on Monday to unveil the memorial and remember

their loved ones, according to media reports. Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will join government and international officials at a solemn ceremony to dedicate the memorial, the Agence FrancePresse reported. The names of all the 298 passengers and crew killed in the disaster will be read out by their families, and local children will lay flowers, AFP added. While most of the victims were Dutch, passengers on the plane also included Australians, Britons, Malaysians and Indonesians, among others. “Whoever did it should be brought to justice. That’s the only story I can share with anyone,” Evert van Zijtveld, a bereaved Dutch father who lost his two teenage children in the tragedy, told local media on Thursday ahead of the third anniversary of the disaster.

It’s nice to think that he has a tree, since we have not received his body. We don’t want Gary to be forgotten.” Jan Slok, father of 16-year-old victim Gary Slok

In March, relatives of the victims planted the trees which symbolize “hope” and “future” in many cultures, according to the monument’s official website. “We not only want to honor the MH17 victims, but also want to create a place where everyone can keep their memories of the 298 passengers alive. Every victim’s life will live on metaphorically through these memorial trees,” said the website. The ribbon will be surrounded by a ring of sunflowers, which blossom during the month of July. The sunflowers

also refer to the sunflower fields in eastern Ukraine where some parts of the plane wreckage were found, the website added. One apple tree has been dedicated to 16-year-old Gary Slok, from Rotterdam, whose body has still not yet been identified. “It’s nice to think that he has a tree, since we have not received his body. We don’t want Gary to be forgotten. We don’t want any of the 298 victims to be forgotten,” his father Jan Slok, told the daily AD newspaper. The 16-meter-long steel

“Indian men have not been encouraging at all. There are a lot of people who write very nasty comments. “I completely ignore these things. You can’t fight internet trolls. I don’t know these people so why should it bother me?” Singh, who currently weighs 73 kg, says she will continue trying to sell “a more positive body image” and “challenge notions of fitness and beauty”. “I’m not aiming to have this thin figure but I am aiming to have a beautiful flow and make my body strong through yoga,” she said.

LOS ANGELES — The US Postal Service released a sheet of 20 Forever stamps featuring 10 classic Disney villains. The characters include the Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Captain Hook from Peter Pan, Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, Scar from The Lion King and more. Each stamp showcases one Disney villain set against a blue background, with his or her name on the left edge. The US Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan, who was joined by Disney officials, dedicated the stamps at the weekend during the annual Disney fan even D23 Expo, which is taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center in southern California. “The Postal Service is highlighting the Disney villains and the pioneering spirit of the (Walt Disney Animation Studios’) Ink and Paint Department that brought many of these characters to life,” Brennan said in a statement. “These stamps are our way of saying that Disney villains will forever entertain us and serve as a tribute Disney’s artistry and storytelling skill.” The Ink & Paint Department, based in Burbank in Los Angeles, has helped create the company’s iconic animated films since 1932. In 2012, Disney joined with the US Postal Service and released stamps featuring characters from Finding Nemo, Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. Disney’s D23 Expo began on July 14 and lasted for three days, providing thousands of fans from all over the world with unprecedented access to Disney films and television shows. This year fans got sneak previews of the upcoming Avengers and Star Wars movies.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

XINHUA

Jockeys compete in Chonburi’s annual buffalo race festival in Chonburi province, Thailand, on Sunday. ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA / REUTERS

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

weighed almost 90 kilograms at the time. She got a trainer and embraced the “whole frenzy of losing weight” but grew bored of running so she signed up for something she’d never done before — yoga. “The first class I was thinking, ‘Can I really do this because I have a big body?’ After two or three class I realized people were looking at me and thinking, ‘Oh my god, she can do this’. My body had a certain kind of stamina, of flexibility.” Singh, who works for a TV channel in India’s financial capital, soon realized there were limitations to group

I completely ignore these things. You can’t fight internet trolls. I don’t know these people so why should it bother me?” Dolly Singh, Mumbai-based yoga fan who is trying to promote body positivity to other women

classes and sought the instruction she needed from videos online. “We all have different bodies and if my teacher doesn’t have a belly, how will they know what the problems are of having a big belly,” she explains, laughing. “I’m a big busted person

XINHUA

Disney villains to feature on US stamps

Cattle drive

Indian woman defies stereotypes and inspires through yoga MUMBAI — A plus-sized Indian woman is challenging body stereotypes and defying internet trolls with a series of yoga videos that are proving a hit on social media. Dolly Singh, 34, has gained something of a fan following online for promoting body positivity by showing that size is no barrier to mastering complex yoga moves. “To say ‘You can’t do this because you have so much weight,’ I don’t believe that,” Singh said after completing her morning stretch in a Mumbai park. Four years ago a doctor advised her to lose weight following an ankle sprain. Singh, who is 1.5 meters,

eyebrow above the eye represents “the burden of the loss,” the Trouw daily said, adding with time it will rust, a symbol of the slow passage of pain. The victims’ names are also engraved in the pupil of the eye. Though no suspects have been arrested, some progress is being made in the investigation. In September, a report published by the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team concluded that the plane was shot down by a Russian-made Buk missile fired from a region in eastern Ukraine, controlled by independence-seeking insurgents. Moscow and the rebel leadership in eastern Ukraine have denied the allegation, saying the plane was shot by a missile from the territory controlled by Ukrainian government troops.

and if the teacher isn’t how are they going to understand that when I’m doing a Halasana (plow pose) I’m almost choking to death!” Singh started filming herself to monitor her progress and then began posting clips of her yoga poses on Instagram. Soon she was inundated

with messages, mainly from foreigners at first but then from Indian women saying that Singh was an inspiration. “I’ve been overwhelmed by some people saying they would feel alienated in a room full of perfect yoga bodies, how they would feel that everyone is watching them. “There’s an idea of not showing your body if you’re big-bodied. You’re supposed to hide everything because it’s not appealing or it’s not something people like to see but that’s just something that’s been sold to us,” she said. The response hasn’t all been positive however. Singh says she has been the victim of body shaming online.

Tourists eye Cambodia’s new heritage site as country hopes for economic lift PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Tourists flocked to Cambodia’s newest World Heritage site at the weekend after it was added to the United Nations cultural list last week. The 16th and 17th century forest temple of Sambor Prei Kuk is the latest attraction in the country that attracts tourists from all over the world, who often make a beeline for the Angkor Wat temple complex, another World Heritage site. On July 8, UNESCO added Sambor Prei Kuk or “temple in the richness of the forest” in

the Khmer language to its heritage list. Located 206 kilometers north of the capital Phnom Penh, it is home to numerous temples, 10 of which are octagonal. UNESCO said Sambor Prei Kuk had been identified as Ishanapura, the capital of the ancient Chenla Empire, a Khmer civilization that flourished in the late 6th and 7th centuries and preceded the Khmer Empire. It joins the Angkor Archaeological Park and the Preah Vihear temple, located on the

Thai-Cambodia border, as world heritage sites. Cambodian tourists visited Sambo Prei Kuk on Saturday. One couple took wedding photos at the site. “Now that it is listed as the world heritage site, I hope that our people will benefit a lot from this and I say many thanks to our ancestors who built this and kept it for us until this generation,” said Sem Norm, a temple guard, who said he has been taking care of the temples since 1994. Others hope tourism will help boost the local economy.

“When we have more tourists then the people here can get more income by selling the souvenirs and our kids can even learn English language easily,” said tourist Uch Srey Leakhena. Thousands are expected to celebrate the listing of Sambo Prei Kuk as a world heritage site on Monday. Tourist arrivals in Cambodia rose 5 percent to 5 million last year. About 5.5 million tourists are expected to visit the country this year. REUTERS

Tourists visit the Sambor Prei Kuk temple, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site last week, in Kampong Thom province, Cambodia, on Saturday. Thousands are expected to visit the temple on Monday to celebrate its inclusion on the list. SAMRANG PRING / REUTERS

SITTING PRETTY

Ergonomic furniture firms spring into action p14

NEW ERA IN RETAIL

BUSINESS STOCKS DECLINE

Small-cap slump drags down indices p17

Staff-less shops zoom into frame p16

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Slower but robust growth seen in H2, says leading experts Economy ‘will be bolstered by drivers such as consumption in smaller cities’ By LI XIANG lixiang@chinadaily.com.cn

China’s economy may grow slightly slower in the second half of the year but will remain robust supported by improved external demand and domestic private investment, a leading economist at Morgan Stanley said on Monday. China’s GDP rose 6.9 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, unchanged from the previous quarter, official data showed. The growth beat a market consensus of 6.8 percent and was well above the government’s full-year target of “around 6.5 percent”. Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley Asia Ltd, said the robust growth in the first half of the year was mainly bolstered by the export recovery and the rebound of private investment in the service and manufacturing sectors. Xing predicted that the growth of manufacturing investment would rebound to 7.8 percent this year, up from 4.2 percent in 2016. However, growth of investment by State-owned enterprises will likely slow to 13 percent while

Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley Asia Ltd

property investment growth will drop to 5 percent. In the long run, Morgan Stanley maintained an optimistic outlook on the Chinese economy as growth will be bolstered by new drivers such as consumption in smaller cities. It estimated that domestic consumption will rise to $9.7 trillion by 2030 from $4.4 trillion in 2016, with two-thirds of the consumption growth from third and fourth-tier cities. In the meantime, the US investment bank believed that China is capable of avoiding a financial crisis despite the rise in the country’s debt level,

which stood at 278 percent of GDP last year, according to its estimates. “We are optimistic due to the government’s determination to push deleveraging and control the debt level in an orderly and gradual manner to avoid liquidity risks,” Xing said. Xing added that policymakers will maintain a hawkish outlook on financial regulation and keep monetary conditions relatively tight to slow broad credit growth. The stronger-than-expected GDP growth in the second quarter has prompted some economists to raise their growth forecasts for China. Zhao Yang, chief China economist at Nomura Securities, raised his forecast for the third quarter to 6.8 percent from 6.6 percent and his annual forecast to 6.8 percent from 6.7 percent. But Zhao warned about uncertainty over external demand, given the appreciation of the renminbi in the first half of the year and rising global geopolitical risks. Morgan Stanley’s Xing held similar views, believing that major risk that could threaten China’s growth is the deterioration of the external environment and rising global trade frictions.

New committee key to financial sector reform and regulation BEIJING — China’s decision to establish a committee to oversee financial stability and development will be key to reform and coordinated regulation of the financial sector, economists said. “The reason why China has decided to launch a financial stability and development committee is that it could shore up weak links in supervision and strengthen comprehensive coordination,” said Lian Ping, chief economist with Bank of Communications. Given a fragmented and segmentary system might leave blind spots in supervision and lead to financial arbitrage, the introduction of the committee will help improve the effectiveness of regulation and address regulation challenges brought by increasingly mixed financial services, Lian said. The financial stability and development committee should be an authoritative decision-making body rather than an advisory body, according to Lian. China announced that it will set up a committee under the State Council to oversee financial stability and development during a two-day National Financial Work Conference that ended on Saturday. The conference also said the central bank will play a stronger role in macro prudential management and guarding against systemic risks. The role of the committee and the function of the central bank are complementary in terms of financial supervision, Lian said. Xu Hongcai, an economist with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, agreed with Lian,

Xu Hongcai, an economist with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges

Lian Ping, chief economist with Bank of Communications

saying that China’s decision to set up the committee aimed to enhance coordination and improve weak links in financial oversight. Xu said a country’s central bank plays a special role in its financial system, and the conference highlighted the central bank’s role in macro prudential management and avoiding systemic risk. The planned committee will elevate the level of financial supervision, enabling the country to better deal with financial risks from home and abroad and push forward economic restructuring, according to Zhou Xiaoquan from Central China Securities. The government will also enhance the coordination and

connectivity of financial infrastructure and promote sharing of statistics and supervision information, according to the conference. Tasks highlighted at the conference include making the financial sector better serve the real economy, containing financial risks and deepening financial reforms. The conference has been convened every five years since 1997 and is widely considered to set the tone for financial reforms. On the eve of the conference this year, the Chinese insurance regulator warned of multiple risks in the insurance industry, ranging from liquidity pressure to reputation management. Chinese insurers grabbed headlines by using leveraged money to buy shares in listed companies, triggering sharp volatility in the market late last year. Right before the conference, the country’s securities regulator also extended its message to strengthen oversight on the securities market to keep it fair, open and impartial. “The regulator will continue to crack down on violations of securities laws and regulations, including insider trading and market manipulation,” said Jiang Yang, vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. In April, China’s central leadership called for concrete efforts to maintain financial security, saying that financial vitality would lead to economic vitality, and financial stability is of key importance to economic stability. XINHUA

Employees work on a Jaguar automobile on the production line at Tata Motors Ltd’s Jaguar assembly plant in Castle Bromwich, United Kingdom. BLOOMBERG

Automaker to build compact SUV in China By ANGUS MCNEICE and LI FUSHENG

British premium automaker Jaguar Land Rover has announced it will build its new compact SUV Jaguar E-PACE in China to tap into the craze for such vehicles. The company said its plants in the United Kingdom are close to full capacity, and it expects demand for the five-seat E-PACE would be high after the mid-sized F-PACE SUV became the fastest-selling car in the company’s history, with 80,000 sold so far this year. JLR launched the E-PACE in London on Thursday, with a stunt driver making it into the Guinness Book of World Records after making a 15.3 meter jump and 270-degree barrel roll in the vehicle. In China, the carmaker’s joint venture, Chery Jaguar Land Rover, will build the cars at its factory in Changshu, Jiangsu province. Vehicles produced there will be for local customers. The car will go on sale in China next year.

The joint venture, which started production in late 2014, is currently manufacturing the Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Discovery Sport, and Jaguar XFL in China. John Zeng, managing director of LMC Automotive Shanghai, said the localized model will help JLR to make faster inroads into the compact SUV segment in China, which is currently dominated by the Audi Q3, the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. SUVs have been the fastest growing sector in the Chinese market, with their sales soaring nearly 17 percent year-onyear in the first half of the year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Their fast growth, which LMC believes will continue for quite a while, is in stark contrast to other segments, such as sedans, multipurpose vehicles and minivans, whose sales fell, ranging from 3.2 percent to 25.3 percent, in the same period in China. In Europe, automaker Magna Steyr will build the

120,000 number of JLR vehicles that were sold in China in 2016

E-PACE in Austria, starting later this year, and it will also make the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE model from 2018. Pan Qing, executive director of Jaguar Land Rover China, said: “The Jaguar brand has caught the imagination of Chinese consumers, as evidenced by 144 percent yearon-year growth in the first six months of 2017. “The E-PACE suits the needs and tastes of Chinese consumers from both a design and performance perspective, and we are confident that the newest member of the Jaguar portfolio will further enhance Jaguar Land Rover’s competitiveness in China.” China, where some 120,000 JLR vehicles were sold in 2016, is the company’s largest single-country mar-

ket, generating one-fifth of global sales. JLR’s retail sales for June were up 65.3 percent year-onyear in China to 12,004 units, with nearly 7,000 made in China by Chery Jaguar Land Rover. Its UK sales were up 3.8 percent to 9,061 units, Europe up 3.7 percent, hitting 12,939 units and North America up 3.2 percent to 9,907 units. Andy Goss, JLR sales operations director, said: “Jaguar Land Rover saw another positive performance in June, led by strong sales in China, both from imported vehicles and our Chinese joint venture.” JLR, which manufactures vehicles under the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, said Jaguar sold 15,343 vehicles in June, up 16.4 percent from last June. The company said sales of the new Land Rover Discovery continue to grow, following its launch in North America and China. Contact the writers at angus@mail. chinadailyuk.com

Agricultural imports in 2017 rise rapidly By WANG XIAODONG wangxiaodong@ chinadaily.com.cn

China’s imports of major agricultural products continued to increase fast in the first five months of the year, driven by price gaps between domestically produced products and imported products, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Wheat imports between January and May reached 2.2 million metric tons, an increase of 67.3 percent yearon-year, while import of soybeans increased by nearly 20 percent to 37 million tons, and imports of beef rose by 14 percent during the period, compared with the same period last year, Wang Ping, deputy chief of the ministry’s Department of Market and Economic Information, said at a news conference on Monday. China imported 1.68 million tons of wheat and associated products between January and April, an increase of 94 percent over the same period last year, Wang said, citing figures from the General Administration of Customs. Imports of some major agricultural products kept increasing quickly between 2011 and 2016, with grain imports increasing at an average annual rate of 32.2 percent, meat at an average annual rate of 24.9 percent, and dairy at 16.6 percent during the five-year period, according to the ministry.

China’s imports of wheat, barley, soybean, rapeseed, beef and mutton between January and May: Unit: million metric tons 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

37.1

2.2 Wheat

3.9 Barley

2.1 Soybean

Source: The Ministry of Agriculture

0.27

Rapeseed

Beef

0.13 Mutton

LIU LUNAN / CHINA DAILY

Workers pack asparagus at a food factory in Huaibei, Anhui province. LI XIN / FOR CHINA DAILY

“A rapid increase in imports has also had a great impact on China’s domestic market for agricultural products,” Wang said. “Due to a sustained increase in imports, it is predicted that beef and mutton prices in the domestic market may fall slightly this year.” The prices of many agricultural products produced in China are higher than the international level due to higher production costs, according to the Ministry of

Agriculture. An exception is corn, whose average wholesale price was 1.58 yuan (23 cents) per kilogram in the first part of the year, similar to the international level, a decrease of 14.4 percent yearon-year, according to the ministry. Dairy industry analyst Song Liang said the average cost of dairy products in China was at least 20 percent higher than in the European Union, largely due to higher production costs resulting

from limited resources such as water and grazing land. This has caused a rapid increase in dairy imports, he said. Due to causes such as increasing supply, prices of agricultural products in China in general have kept falling since the beginning of this year, with prices of fresh and perishable products, such as vegetables, pork, chicken and eggs seeing the biggest decline, Wang, from the Ministry of Agriculture, said. For example, the price of eggs decreased to their lowest in the last 10 years in the first half of the year before rebounding recently, and the price of poultry also declined in the first half of the year, Wang said. The major causes were increased production, as a result of higher poultry and egg prices two years ago and the falling prices of feed such as corn, and an increase in H7N9 bird flu cases during the first half of the year in China, he said. The price of eggs started to rise in June due to reduced supply following sustained lower prices since late last year, Wang said. Egg prices may continue to rise in the second half of the year, but at a slow rate due to adequate supply, he said. The prices of some other major agricultural products, such as pork and vegetables, may also rebound in the second half of the year, Wang said.

14 BUSINESS

Tuesday, July 18, 2017 CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

Entrepreneur from Canada finds home from home in Shenzhen By CHAI HUA in Shenzhen, Guangdong grace@chinadailyhk.com

“In the first week we got here, we completely changed our design,” said Asif Khan, from Canada, who is now starting his own business in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Khan is working on new molding technology that can automatically change its surface so that manufacturers can quickly and easily adjust their moldings. The core of his design is the “PinPress”, a cube, as small as a pingpong ball, with many metal pins inserted in it. Manufacturers only need to program their computer for the shape they require, and the pins will be adjusted accordingly.

When they need to produce another shape, they just change the design on the computer. The device seems simple, but the difficulty is how to power these pins to move. In Khan’s original design, he used a high electric current, but if it is too high, the pins tend to melt or get burnt. He said the challenge was to find the balance of different variables, such as the amount of electricity and the size of the pin. Now he uses magnets inside 3-mm-wide pins and a lot less electricity, which solved his problem. “In the beginning, we were not even using magnets because they were too big and expensive in Canada,” he said. But he found China has the technology to make small magnets, not

too small but just the right size for the PinPress, and the cost is much less because it can be mass-produced. Khan came to Shenzhen for the first time in July 2015. “When I came here, I was surprised there were so many things we could do,” he recalled. Then he went back to the University of Waterloo in Canada to finish his master’s degree in various mathematical solvers, after an undergraduate degree in Nanotechnology Engineering. In the September 2016, he and some of his classmates came to Shenzhen again with HAX Accelerator, one of the world’s largest hardware incubators. With offices in Shenzhen and San Francisco, HAX has incubated more

than 130 startups and above 90 percent are international teams. The HAX community helped Khan to find small contractors. “They are willing to do small and quick work for us, which is a big support for startups,” he added. “What cost us seven weeks and about 10,000 yuan ($1,480) to do in Canada, takes us three or four days to do it here and costs us about 2,000 yuan. Much cheaper and much faster,” he added. However, it was not low costs that attracts him the most, but “if you would like to spend a little bit more money, then you can get a really good product,” he said. “I love Shenzhen because, as an engineer, I like to make things,” he said, “and it is so easy to make new things here. Sometimes I am bored

and come up with a new idea, we can just make it.” For example, he is working on a smart baseball that can record all motion data. He is a huge baseball fan and also teaches local children to play baseball in Shenzhen. However, he also noticed the downside is that many young entrepreneurs in Shenzhen change their startup ideas too quickly as it is so easy to start a new project. In addition, he also loves the convenience brought by e-commerce in China and he is so good at shopping online that he is considered a “Taobao expert” in the office. When people in the HAX office want to buy something, they come to Khan. “Though I know only a little bit Chinese, I have a really good technique on how to use Taobao, such as

translating the page and finding the right words in Chinese to search for what I want,” he said. Khan is just one of the foreign entrepreneurs in Shenzhen, a city that has been vigorously establishing “China’s Silicon Valley” with strong financial and policy support for startups. Khan’s team once won a competition organized by the local authorities for a prize of 50,000 yuan. In addition, many international incubators, such as the world famous Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab), have been established in the city, bringing more and more foreign innovative projects and teams. Khan’s plan is to stay in China as long as he can. He already teamed up with the local molding association for long-term cooperation.

What’s news is benefiting from “favorable cyclical conditions”, including its membership in the European Union, but at the same time warning that the restructuring of its largest private company Agrokor will slow down growth in 2017 to 2.6 percent. “The Croatian economy is benefiting from favorable cyclical conditions. Strengthening growth in regional trading partners, favorable wage and employment dynamics, robust tourism receipts and improved absorption of EU funds, resulted in real GDP growth rising to three percent in 2016 (the fastest since 2007), and are likely to support performance in 2017”, local media quoted the latest Fitch report as saying. However, Fitch analysts believe the problems surrounding Agrokor will affect economic performance. Agrokor was placed into state administration in April and had debt of around 12 percent of GDP at the end of the first quarter this year.

Edible artwork GOVT AND POLICIES

China approves 9 IPO applications The China Securities Regulatory Commission, the country’s top securities market regulator, has approved IPO applications from nine companies. They will raise no more than 4.2 billion yuan ($620 million), the CSRC said in a statement. Four companies will be listed on the Shanghai stock exchange, one on the Shenzhen small and medium-sized enterprise board, and four on the ChiNext, China’s NASDAQ-style board. The firms and their underwriters will confirm IPO dates and publish prospectuses following discussions with the exchanges. Under the current IPO system, new shares are subject to approval from the CSRC. China is gradually switching from an approval-based IPO system to a more market-oriented one based on registration.

Brazil indicators show recovery

More lock-up shares eligible Lock-up shares worth around 34.8 billion yuan ($5.1 billion) will become eligible for trading on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges this week. The amount is 38.6 percent more than last week, according to data compiled by Chongqing-based Southwest Securities. Lock-up shares from 35 listed companies will become tradable from July 17 to 21, with the peak share unlocking period falling on Monday, it said. Under China’s market rules, major shareholders must wait one to two years before they are permitted to sell their shares.

Nation sees more entrepreneurs China saw fast growth in entrepreneurship in the first half of this year with increasing registration of companies and self-employed entrepreneurs. The number of new market entities reached 8.87 million in the first half, up 13.2 percent year-onyear, with 49,000 new companies or self-employed entrepreneurs registered each day on average, according to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. A total of 2.911 million new companies were registered in the first half, up 11.1 percent year-on-year, while 5.809 million self-employed entrepreneurs have been registered, up 14.8 percent year-on-year. Applications for

A contestant uses her mobile phone to take a photo of a sculpture she made out of a watermelon at an innovation contest held in Fuyang, Anhui province, over the weekend. WANG BIAO / FOR CHINA DAILY

trademarks also grew quickly in the first half, up 30.8 percent year-onyear.

Software copyright registrations soar China received more than 400,000 new software copyright registrations in 2016, a year-on-year increase of 39.48 percent, according to a report. Eastern regions accounted for 80 percent of the total registrations in 2016, while western areas saw the fastest increase of 43.68 percent year-on-year, said the report issued by the Copyright Protection Center of China. The number of software copyright registrations in Guangdong province overtook those registered in Beijing, reaching first place nationally, the report said. Registrations for financial software in 2016 increased by 100.53 percent while registrations for games, education, medicine and cloud computing software saw growth of more than 40 percent year-on-year, said the report. China began to register software copyrights in 1992 in a bid to protect the rights of software owners.

Tech glitches may delay iPhone 8

COMPANIES AND MARKETS

Bank opens to support startups A bank opened on Sunday in Beijing’s Zhongguancun area, which boasts active entrepreneurial activities, to support startups and innovation. Zhongguancun Bank, which gained approval from China’s banking regulator in December, is co-sponsored by 11 listed companies in this area. It has registered capital of 4 billion yuan ($590 million). The lender mainly provides financial support to small and micro-sized scientific and technological firms. “Supporting science and technology is our most prominent feature,” said Guo Hong, chairman of the bank, at its opening. Every year, more than 20,000 tech companies are set up in Zhongguancun. More than 60 unicorn firms valued at over $1 billion emerged in this area in the past two years.

Technological problem might force Apple to delay the release of its next flagship smartphone — iPhone 8, US news network the CNBC cited a report from Bank of America as saying. The report, written by Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s two analysts, said the iPhone 8 “will ship 3-4 weeks delayed given technological issues which Apple and its suppliers are working through”. The observation, according to the CNBC, was made after the two analysts’ recent visits to Apple’s suppliers in Asia. Apple has not released a launch date for the as-yet announced iPhone 8 but it typically releases new iterations of the device in September. The report said the problems are with the new fingerprint sensor and 3D-scanning technologies.

EasyJet planning Austria airline British budget airline easyJet said it plans to set up a new airline headquartered in Vienna, Austria, having already applied for an Air Operator

Certificate and an airline operating license. If granted the accreditation would give the airline permission to establish a third company wing, called “easyJet Europe” alongside its existing operations in Britain and Switzerland. All are to be owned by Britain-based parent easyJet plc. The move is being interpreted by Austrian media as a means for the airline to be able to continue to offer flights within the European Union in anticipation of the upcoming Brexit. In a news release the company did not state how many new jobs would be created at its Vienna operations, though it noted that no jobs would be shifted there from Britain.

AROUND THE WORLD

Croatia’s rating stays at BB Fitch Ratings has kept Croatia’s rating at BB with a stable outlook, pointing out that Croatia’s economy

Brazil’s most recent economic indicators showed that the country is recovering from a two-year-long recession, Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said. “At the moment, there is no sign the growth path has been reversed. Several June indicators show advances, like energy consumption and vehicle production,” he said, adding that the Brazilian institutions are solid. “The economic team is focused on the economic reform, working day and night to ensure the country will resume growing,” Meirelles said. Though Brazil’s most recent GDP figures were positive, showing a mild growth of the economy, the country is still under the effects of a long economic crisis. Brazilian economists said last month that it was too soon to declare the country’s two-year recession over, despite positive first quarter results.

Foreign investment in SEZ hits $1.7b Foreign investment in Myanmar’s Thilawa Special Economic Zone on the outskirts of Yangon is estimated to have hit $1.7 billion so far since the zone was launched four years ago, official media reported on Monday. Foreign investment in the SEZ was led by manufacturing sector at $773 million, followed by the import-export sector at $126 million, the logistics sector at $77 million, the service sector at $56 million, and the real estate sector at $30 million and the hotel sector at $12 million. CHINA DAILY-AGENCIES

Ergonomic furniture firms spring into action, riding big demand By ZHU WENQIAN zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn

Ergonomic office furniture makers say they have not sat still — riding a booming business in China, where an increasing awareness by office workers of the need for healthy lifestyles has seen them move to alter their sedentary work schedules. New York-based ergonomic furniture maker Humanscale Ltd said sales revenues in China has grown consecutively by about 25 percent year-on-year in recent years. Founded in 1983, Humanscale entered China in 2011. Currently, Humanscale sells its furniture on Amazon in China. Additionally, it has showrooms in Beijing

and Shanghai, where corporate customers can visit and place orders. It is also planning to open another retail store in China soon, but will not disclose specific plans. “The United States is our largest market followed by the United Kingdom, although we think China has the potential to overtake them,” said Tim Hutchings, president of Humanscale Ltd’s international unit. Hutchings said his group targeted any customers who use a computer, particularly those companies in the finance, legal and technology sectors. “We are very optimistic about the future of our business in China,” he said. “The growth potential is amazing,

because Chinese people are fascinated in keeping ahead of the curve with cutting edge innovation and design. Our seating products and monitor arm solutions are particularly popular in China.” Hutchings added that there were a huge number of computer users in China and his company designed products that enabled computer users to feel more comfortable. As a result, corporate clients were seeing improved productivity, staff retention and profitability. Traditional desks and chairs can strain wrists and bodies if postures are maintained in the same position for a long time, but Humanscale says furniture that adapts to human bodies and encourages comfortable pos-

The growth potential is amazing, because Chinese people are fascinated in keeping ahead of the curve with cutting edge innovation and design.” Tim Hutchings, president of Humanscale Ltd’s international unit

tures, such as sit-stand tables that could glide up and down, allow employees to dynamically alternate between positions. “When I travel on business in China, I like to get up early and go for a run. It’s amazing how many people are out in the parks in the early morning, practicing Tai Chi and moving,” Hutchings said. “Chinese people understand the importance of keeping fit and that’s why it’s such an exciting market for us.” In Europe and the US, many companies choose to have ergonomic furniture for their staff, such as Adidas, Apple Inc, Google Inc and HSBC. In China, online news aggregator toutiao.com, a new media platform, also

chooses to use ergonomic furniture at its Beijing office. According to research by the University of Pittsburgh last year, frequent standing breaks during work can help to control weight and reduce obesity, and decrease the chances of getting diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. “My work has long hours and I have a sit-stand desk,” said Michelle Chen, a 26-year-old lawyer based in Hong Kong. “Most of the time, I would prefer to sit down to work, as it helps to raise my efficiency,” she said. “But it’s great that I have the option to work while standing, especially after I had lunch or when I feel tired.”

Focus | BUSINESS 15

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Editor's Note: China’s gross domestic product jumped to an unexpected 6.9 percent growth year-on-year in the first half of 2017. In a series of interviews, China Daily put four crucial questions to economists, analysts and business leaders about the prospects of economic growth in the country and wider business issues.

China’s economy is on the right track Economists, analysts and business leaders discuss the prospects for growth in the country during the next six months Q1: What are the most encouraging signs you have seen in the Chinese economy during the first half of 2017 and what has impressed you the most about the macroeconomic data currently available for the first half?

Q2: Based on your research or business operations, what are your projections for China’s economic growth in the second half of this year?

Q3: What factors will help China increase growth and what are the key challenges?

John Litwack, lead economist for China at the World Bank

: There are a number of encouraging signs. This includes stronger than expected numbers on economic growth and greater confidence in the business community. Relative to 2015 and 2016, we are particularly encouraged by recent macroeconomic and regulatory policies aimed at bringing debt under control. While China has experienced strong economic growth by international standards in 2015 and 2016, the buildup in debt raised questions about sustainability and growing risks. We think that the experience in the first half of 2017 represents an important break from the past in that regard. The government has been pursuing important measures to bring debt and shadow banking under control. For us in the World Bank, progress toward reducing macroeconomic imbalances that emerged in China since the global financial crisis is more important than the question of GDP growth being a bit higher or a bit lower than expected. We believe that the fundamentals in China’s economy are still quite strong, and that macroeconomic imbalances, if not addressed, would represent the biggest threat to China’s ability to sustain high growth during the medium and longer term. A2: We had been projecting 6.5 percent growth this year, but anticipate that we will revise our projection upward following the release of data for the first half of the year on Monday. We do think that China will likely experience somewhat slower growth in the second half of the year, assuming that it continues to pursue tighter monetary and regulatory policies to constrain growth in debt. However, we believe that the continual pursuit of these policies is very important for China’s future growth and development prospects. A3: A more favorable external environment has been a major factor in supporting higher-than-expected growth in China in the first half of 2017. The recovery in trade is one reason why China has been able to sustain strong growth, while also tightening policies and regulations to control debt. Although current expectations about the external environment continue to be generally favorable for the second half, these prospects are always uncertain. A4: During the medium term, China cannot rely on increasing export volumes to sustain its relatively rapid pace of economic growth. Rebalancing toward domestic demand remains a key condition to sustain rapid growth here. For demand-driven growth, it is critical that incomes and consumption of the population continue to increase at a rapid pace. That should become an even stronger primary driver and stimulate private investment. Potential remains for China to support productivity growth and efficiency through strengthened institutions for market exit. This includes reforms to boost competition policy, manage insolvency, bankruptcy, and ensure an active and appropriate role for creditors in restructuring insolvent firms. We are happy that China is making significant progress in these areas, and we believe that continued progress will be of first order importance for future growth prospects.

Jing Ulrich, vice-chairman of Asia-Pacific at JP Morgan

Jeremy Stevens, China economist at Standard Bank

: One of the most favorable drivers for the Chinese economy in the first half of year has been PPI (Producer Price Index) inflation, which has helped to support strong growth in industrial profits in various industries. These include mining, equipment manufacturing and consumer goods. Total industrial profits increased 22.7 percent year-on-year between the January-May period. In the first and the second quarters, China’s GDP grew at a respectable rate of 6.9 percent year-on-year, beating expectations. The stable growth and PPI inflation have reduced the risks of credit defaults in the economy. This has provided a supportive environment for policymakers to manage financial risks that could arise from shadow banking. A2: Looking at the second half of the year, we expect economic growth to moderate from the first six months. Indeed, data from the second quarter indicate moderation in industrial production growth and fixed investment activity. In addition, the housing market has also showed signs of cooling, as reflected by lower investment growth in recent months. We expect to see more softening in the economy in the coming months, as the impact of fiscal support in the first quarter diminishes. The impact of financial and housing market tightening will also become more apparent. A3: The resilient performance of the service sector will be one of the key factors supporting China’s growth in the near term. Rapid expansion of technology and service industries will create new jobs and products that meet the needs of a thriving middleclass population. Their consumption power will help drive the economy forward. In terms of challenges, corporate debt and the growth of shadow banking activity remain key issues, which could result in a setback for the economy. Policymakers have taken steps to tighten financial conditions and curb risky credit, but they need to balance them with accommodative policies that support economic growth. A4: First, policymakers should continue to provide incentives that encourage the development of tertiary industries and new economy sectors. Second, State-owned enterprise, or SOE, reform remains a critical element in addressing the debt and overcapacity problems. A transparent, legally-based bankruptcy scheme needs to be implemented for underperforming SOEs. To ensure its success, reforms need to be accompanied by comprehensive skills retraining to help displaced workers find employment in new firms and industries. The transition can be painful, but the commitment to carry out such reforms will steer China toward a more stable and sustainable growth path in the long run.

: The most impressive feature in the first half has been the degree of coordination and uniformity from authorities in dealing with imbalances in the financial markets. This has had the desired impact on the real economy, and is a huge step in the right direction in ensuring that medium- and longer-term growth is placed on a more stable footing. A2: GDP probably peaked in the first half, so we agree with the broad economic consensus. We believe that restrictions on real estate, the tighter credit environment and slower PPI (Producer Price Index) growth will have an impact on second half figures. Still, I would not be surprised if growth remains above 6.5 percent year-on-year in each of the remaining quarters. A3: Surprise growth areas

Song Yu, chief China economist at Goldman Sachs

: The most encouraging sign at the macro level was that growth held up yet inflationary pressures declined and liquidity moderated. This means potential growth levels could be stronger than previously estimated. In terms of growth drivers, there are signs of a rebound in private business activity, which is not government directed. This is different from rebounds we saw during the past five years, which were mostly government fueled and infrastructure focused. A2: We expect growth to moderate but remain robust. The government’s policy stance has turned more supportive of growth in the second quarter, although it still has a mild tightening bias. The current cyclical policy can be summarized as “supply enough, and just enough, liquidity to achieve broadly defined

Glenn Stevens, chief executive officer at GAIN Capital

MA XUEJING AND SHI YU CONTRIBUTED TO THESE ILLUSTRATIONS

: Chinese manufacturing has seen a rebound in the first half of the year, and has mostly surpassed expectations. Business confidence and investments are also rising. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has expressed confidence in the past few months that China is on track to meet its growth target of around 6.5 percent. With momentum maintained, inflation remains in check and the People’s Bank of China can exercise prudent monetary policy and continue to support economic growth. In addition, there has been a marked rise in demand, which will also have a positive affect. From a currency perspective, the inclusion of the Chinese yuan in the IMF’s special drawing rights basket just before the beginning of this year has been positive. The yuan is now one of the top currencies traded globally in the foreign exchange markets. And as the exchange rate gains more flexibility, it will become one of the world’s most important reserve currencies, rivaling the dollar and the euro. A2: The Belt and Road Initiative has made progress in the first half of the year. It will continue to play an important role in addressing the manufacturing overcapacity issue in China. A consumer-fueled economic model outlined in Chi-

Q4: What would be your advice to achieve stable, balanced and sustainable economic growth in the years ahead?

will come from the housing market, where demand remains robust, and construction, which could be better than expected. Slowing factory gate inflation mean real rates will actually rise and this could cause authorities to loosen policy. Also, improved private sector fixed asset investment, which despite being soft, is better than it has been in the last two years. A4: The government is doing the right thing by delinking from GDP growth toward “quality growth.” By focusing on job creation and technological innovation, this will fuel consumption. Also, dealing with debt and excess capacity are the right things to concentrate on. We expect this to continue while the government finds ways to deal with parts of the economy that are linked to the old growth model.

growth and price stability”. This goal has largely been achieved and the government is likely to be satisfied with the current picture. External demand remains firm, which has been partially fueled by the recovery. A3: The biggest challenge facing the Chinese economy is the pace of market-based reforms. This is the only way to achieve sustainable long-term growth, and become a high income economy. Maintaining stability during this process will be vital, and the government is doing a good job in this respect. A4: It is equally important that the reform measures are carried out swiftly. After the 19th National Congress of the CPC, it will be crucial to define the goals and accelerate the pace. There is a danger that this benign, cyclical picture will lead to complacency or over confidence. This in turn could delay reforms.

na’s 13th Five-Year Plan (201620) will provide a growth engine for the country’s economy in the second half of 2017 and in the years ahead. Alongside this, China should continue financial reforms including the full convertibility of the Chinese yuan by 2020. A3: Strong consumer spending, continued technology innovation and ongoing financial reforms will support China’s growth this year. It will also build a solid foundation for doubling per capita income by 2020 from 2010 levels. The risks lie in maintaining stability within the financial sector, while promoting sound fiscal risk management. Using best practices from other mature economies would be helpful. A4: Increasing flexibility in the yuan’s exchange rate will contribute to China’s expanding prominence in the world economy. Diversifying the country’s growth engine with a more consumer-led economy is an important step to ensure stable and progressive development. Continued financial reforms and integration within the global financial system will also help China. Last month’s MSCI’s decision to include China’s A shares in its index is another example of global markets gaining confidence in the continuous reform of the country’s financial system.

Catherine Yeung, investment director at Fidelity International

: Data for the first six months highlighted how China has emerged from a period of industrial deflation. But the stronger than expected recovery in PPI (Producer Price Index) also caused some concern that the economy could overheat and that industrial inflation would spill over to the consumer segment. Neither risk happened and it’s likely we have seen the peak of PPI in this current cycle. Consumption, especially mass market demand, has continued this year and we expect this trend to remain in place, especially given healthy incomes and continued urbanization. The growth of the consumer in conjunction with the changes in the way that people consume will continue to be an important economic driver during the next five to 10 years. A2: The Chinese economy has been in a “muddling through” stage since the investment cycle peaked in 2010. We are seeing the government focus on the twin objectives of growth — stabilization and reforms. Since the second quarter of 2016, we have seen an improvement in the real economy aided by corporate capital expenditures, consumption and exports. Supply-side reforms have helped in removing excess capacity. So far, we have seen these Stateled capacity cuts in coal and steel. Now, expect industries such as glass, cement, paper and refining to also adopt these reforms. From an earnings perspective, we have likely seen a trough and expect further upward revisions. What is very important is that we are seeing a shift in the outlook toward shareholder returns. For instance, China does not have a dividend culture, but we saw signs of change early this year when China Shenhua issued a special dividend for the first time in its history. A3: There are many supportive drivers to boost growth. Strategies such as “Made in China 2025” underpins companies climbing up the value chain and becoming more innovative. Labor market supply has also changed and with an increase of undergraduates, innovation is a key area of structural growth. While the market has moved up, valuations on the whole remain compeling when viewed in a global context. A relatively stable and predictable policy environment in China compared to much of the West might also start to be reflected in valuations. The gap between China’s share of the world’s economy and its share of global stock markets remains significant, and it is more than likely that this will close over time. It was not a surprise to see A-shares move into global indices, while the prospect for an acceleration in regulatory reforms is expected. A4: China’s proposed reforms agenda needs to continue to be implemented if we are to see sustainable growth.

16 BUSINESS

Tuesday, July 18, 2017 CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

Staff-less shops zoom into frame New voice, face recognition tech could transform traditional retail

By HE WEI in Shanghai hewei@chinadaily.com.cn

By REN XIAOJIN renxiaojin@chinadaily.com.cn

Chinese e-commerce giant and data technology provider Alibaba Group has just unveiled a cashier-free retail store. The online group has joined other retail chains and tech startups flocking into the market with their own solutions, making staff-less retail one of the hottest tech trends. Tao Cafe opened for a trial run on July 8. In the footsteps of the Amazon Go store that made a big debut last year with its use of tracking cameras, it utilizes a facial and voice recognition system. Purchases are tracked by a facial recognition camera, and the system automatically generates bills as soon as customers walk out of the specially designed gate that can identify them with biological sensing technology. Kicking it off before Alibaba, Guangdong-based tech startup BingoBox started to spread its version of staff-less stores, after being granted 100 million yuan ($14.8 million) in its first round of financing. Unlike Tao Cafe, Bingobox is more of a hybrid between convenience stores and vending machines, where customers can walk in and pay by scanning QR codes on their phone. This bypasses eye contact and small talk that normally take place with cashiers in traditional stores. “By the end of August, we

Online retail boom hits international shopping numbers

Alibaba Group’s cashier-free retail store Tao Cafe attracts customers in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

are expecting to open 200 more Bingobox stores,” said Chen Zilin, CEO of Bingobox. “We only cost a quarter of a traditional convenience store, and running costs are oneeighth.” Neil Wang, president of global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan China, said staff-less stores will bring the “next spring” to the retail industry. “Staff-less stores are a combination of digital payments, radio frequency identification technology, biological recognition, big data and AI,” Wang said. “They will lower the risk of shop lifting, optimize the goods and reduce costs, from running and maintenance costs to human labor.” Chen Haibo, CEO of Shenlan Technology Co, said that rental and human labor costs were holding the traditional retail sector back.

“In 2017, staff-less stores will boom,” Chen added. Beverage giant Wahaha Group Co Ltd recently signed a nearly 10 billion yuan deal with Shenlan Technology (Shanghai) Co to build 100,000 self-service Take Go smart stores in three years. Japanese convenience store chain Lawson Inc is currently running trials with an unmanned store in Osaka which is expected to go into commercial use soon. Whleeys Cafe, a Silicon Valley backed startup, has taken its vision of future retail one step further with Moby Mart — a staff-less self-driving vending car with an AI hologram assistant. “We will have a membership system where we can collect our users’ data, so we can deploy our cars into the areas with the optimized products selection,” said Per

They (staff-less stores) will lower the risk of shop lifting, optimize the goods and reduce costs.” Neil Wang, president of Frost & Sullivan China

Cromwell, lead designer of Moby Mart. Cromwell said China had the world’s largest number of mobile payment users. It had gone much further than Europe and made Moby Mart possible.

WANG ZHUANGFEI / CHINA DAILY

“Currently it costs $200,000 to $300,000 to make one Moby Mart, and we can lower it down to $40,000 when it comes to mass production,” he said. “Also, we don’t need to pay rent but something like a parking fee,” he added. As a retailer and staff-less solutions provider, Cromwell said mobility would become the next turning point. He said they were talking with some of the world’s top retail chains, which were interested in upgrading from the traditional retail mode, but preferred not to to disclose names. One potential road block, however: Cromwell said the startup was still waiting for the self-driving car to be legalized before they could achieve their vision of a future retail where the shop comes to the customers’ door.

Shopping overseas is losing its appeal to Chinese tourists as e-commerce companies cash in on international brand sales, a consumer survey has revealed. Last year, outbound travelers spent just one-third of their total budget on shopping, a drop of 41 percent compared to the previous year. Global consultancy Oliver Wyman put this down to booming online e-commerce platforms in China. They have made massive strides in crossborder internet shopping from Chanel handbags straight from France to cherries from the United States. “Cross-border e-commerce has grown rapidly, overseas travel has democratized, and there is greater availability of products at home,” said Hunter Williams, a partner at Oliver Wyman and author of the report. “This means there is less need for buying overseas.” There was a modest “trip spending” rise of 3.5 percent year-on-year to 20,317 yuan ($2,995) per person. Still, this reflected the shift to more exotic locations. Another reason for the decline was the drop in shopping for resale, or “Daigou”, where individuals buy items overseas and sell them in China by charging commission. Spending in this category fell drastically to 1,000 yuan per person last year from 1,800 yuan in 2015, the report showed. “Chinese travelers continue to shift their spending toward more meaningful experiences such as exquisite dining, extraordinary cultural journeys and even adventurous sports,” Williams said.

$2,995 average trip spending of Chinese outbound tourists in 2016

“Those who ranked shopping as the main reason to travel are generally from lower income brackets than those who rank retail spending as the second or third reason to go overseas,” he added. In the US, retail spending dropped from 41 percent to 28 percent, the survey noted. Only 5 percent of the 2,000 people polled ranked shopping as the number one reason to travel overseas. This is partly due to online supermarkets and stores which bring the world to China. By 2021, the combined cross-border e-commerce market here is projected to hit 1.3 trillion yuan, according to Matthew Crabbe, Asia-Pacific research director at global consultancy Mintel. “Trans-border e-commerce is likely to be more relevant to brands looking at initial market entry,” Crabbe said. “Retailers and brands should therefore play to their different strengths when attempting to differentiate from their competitors,” he added. Other findings released by Oliver Wyman showed that Chinese tourists are staying longer in distant locations and traveling more with their families, especially children. “That would indicate a greater proportion of spending was allocated to accommodation, dining and entertainment,” Williams, the report’s author, said.

Markets | BUSINESS 17

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Big small-cap slump drags down indices Weak earnings performance of ChiNext shares, in fears of more public offerings By CAI XIAO caixiao@chinadaily.com.cn

A sharp slump in China’s smallcap stocks pulled China’s major stock indices lower on Monday, offsetting stronger-than-expected economic growth data. A flood of supply from initial public offerings, the weak earnings performance of ChiNext shares and fears of further policy tightening also added to the gloomy mood. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday showed that China’s gross domestic product expanded 6.9 percent year-on-year in the first half, which is well above the government’s target for the year of 6.5 percent, reflecting a firming

1.43

percent

correction of the Shanghai Composite Index on Monday

trend in the nation’s economy. Growth in June industrial output and retail sales also came in stronger than expected. The Shanghai Composite Index closed the day, however, with a 1.43 percent drop to 3,176.46 points. The Shenzhen Component Index dropped even more, by 3.57 percent. The ChiNext startup index tumbled as much as 5.11 percent to a two-and-a-half-year low. Nearly 500 stocks, most of them small firms, plunged to the 10 percent trading limit, a rare occurrence this year as the authorities attach great importance to maintaining stability in the stock market. “Market regulators have empha-

sized financial markets should serve the real economy, hinting at the possibility that IPOs will continue and accelerate,” said Hong Hao, chief strategist at BOCOM International Holdings Co. “More supply of stocks, mostly smaller caps, slower credit growth and a weak ChiNext earnings season have all contributed to today’s plunge,”said Hong. The country’s financial regulators emphasized the need to develop the direct financing market to fund businesses, showing that the pace of initial public offerings will accelerate. There were 246 IPOs in the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses in the first half of 2017, increasing 303 percent year-on-year, according to accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. In contrast to larger, State-owned firms which are being buoyed most by the strong economy, an increasing number of once-high-flying startups are floundering — a trend epitomized by Leshi Internet & Information Corp, which unveiled over the weekend it swung to a loss in the first half. China Merchant Securities said in report that “the high-valuation bubble is bursting”. Listed firms with good business performances will continue to be chased by investors ... while ChiNext will continue to find its bottom,” the brokerage said, forecasting average earnings of ChiNext companies will fall to “single-digit” growth from an expected 25 percent this year. China’s blue-chip SSE50 Index, also called China’s “Nifty Fifty”, increased 0.32 percent to 2631.41 on Monday, which was the highest level in almost two years.

An employee from the Bank of China introduces financial services to a client in Zhengzhou, Henan province.

China sees growth in financial talent By HE WEI in Shanghai hewei@chinadaily.com.cn

Chinese nationals represent more than 30 percent of the holders of Chartered Financial Analyst charters, the world’s most recognizable financial credential, indicating the country’s desire to increase financial talent and open up on a more global basis, according to a senior executive at the CFA Institute. The current 45,000 charter holders in China are at least five years younger than the global average, reflecting their keenness to grasp the sets of knowledge and skills essential to landing and cementing a job with a relatively high threshold and financial return, said Nick Pollard, managing director of the organization’s Asia-Pacific operation. “China is a country really heavily investing in its talents. And because the credential is globally recognized, it shows China’s openness of business to the rest of the world,” he told China Daily. CFA is a designation especially

Reuters contributes to the story.

Index

Daily % Chg

3176.47

Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index 3325

YTD % Chg

–1.4

+2.3

3200 3075 2950

10,055.80

Shenzhen Stock Exchange Component Index 11,200

–3.6

–1.2

10,700 10,200 9700

3663.56

Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index

And because the credential is globally recognized, it shows China’s openness of business to the rest of the world.” Nick Pollard, managing director of the CFA Institute’s Asia-Pacific operation

useful in the investment management profession. In order to obtain a certificate, the candidate needs to pass three levels of exams on a curriculum, from portfolio management to corporate finance, and an additional four years of relevant work experience. While the majority of charter holders in China are concentrated in metropolises like Shanghai and Beijing, the landscape is quickly changing, with tier-two cities, including Hangzhou and Chengdu, seeing “exponential growth” in terms of financial talent, he said. Pollard said the emergence of a variety of talent hubs in China was being driven by a number of factors, the most prominent being a string of supportive measures

from local regulators, government and businesses to attract and retain financial specialists. For instance, Shanghai has rolled out a number of preferential policies on home settling, medical and health insurance and peopleto-people exchange programs to beef up its allure to financial professionals who have overseas study and work experience, said Wang Hua, chief of Shanghai’s Lujiazui Financial City Development Bureau. China’s financial industry is maturing, with more professionals than amateurs joining the league. Financial talent — defined as those systematically trained with financial knowledge — in the country’s securities sector jumped from 8

Gainers Gainers and and Losers Losers

Daily Stock Market Performance

–1.1

+10.7

3720 3610 3500 3390 3280 3170

GAINERS

–2.5

LOSERS

Daily % Chg

Shanghai Stock Exchange Baotou Huazi Industry Thinker Agriclt Mach ShanDngSwnCttnIndMchSt China CITIC Bank Corp InnerMongoliaErdsRsrss New China Life Ins AnhuiHngynClIndstry&El ChinaRwTielongContnrLg AnhuiAndeliDprtmntStre Bank of Jiangsu Co Ltd

13.19 22.21 31.16 7.09 11.82 60.43 9.89 9.38 33.65 9.73

10.01 10.00 9.99 6.14 5.82 4.79 4.44 4.11 3.79 3.73

Nanjing Panda Electr Guangzhou Port Co Ltd Shanghai Zhongyida Co Harbin Viti Electr Hainan Haiqi Trans TianJinGlblMagneticCrd ShaanxBgngVcmElApprtsC Warom Technology Inc ZhengpingRod&BrdgCnstr China Kings Resources

9.70 7.30 7.07 12.29 9.96 7.18 11.58 12.93 13.29 19.31

–10.60 –10.21 –10.05 –10.03 –10.03 –10.03 –10.02 –10.02 –10.02 –10.02

Shenzhen Stock Exchange HenanShenhuo Coal & Pw Shenzhen MTC Co Ltd Zhongtong Bus Hubei Biocause Pharma ShanxXshnCl&ElctrctyPw China CAMC Engineering Bank of Ningbo Co Ltd TaihaiManoirNclrEqpmnt ZhejngFchnjngEnvrThrml Iflytek Co Ltd

9.48 3.26 11.00 9.66 9.18 20.70 16.40 23.25 11.34 40.02

7.36 7.24 4.07 3.65 3.03 2.78 2.76 2.56 2.25 2.22

BeijingUltrapower Sftw Montnets Rongxin Tech Talkweb Info System GalaxyBiomedical Invst Guangdong Advertising Westone Info Industry Sichuan Jiuzhou Electr NSFOCUS Info Tech Feitian Technologies HunanChina Sun Ph Mach

7.35 9.86 10.31 10.76 6.64 14.45 8.35 9.34 15.27 21.74

–10.04 –10.04 –10.03 –10.03 –10.03 –10.02 –10.02 –10.02 –10.02 –10.02

Hang Seng China Merchants Port China Resources Land Henderson Land Dev China Life Insurance PingAnInsGrpCoof China

23.55 24.60 46.10 25.80 58.50

5.13 5.13 3.25 3.20 2.27

Galaxy Entertainment Sands China Ltd Hang Lung Properties Want Want China Cathay Pacific Airways

45.35 34.80 19.62 5.31 12.58

–3.20 –2.11 –1.41 –1.12 –1.10

–5.9

360

USD USD

345 330 315 1143.60

–2.0

+1.4

1220 1170

HKD

GBP

KRW

BRL

RUB

JPY

INR

CAD

1.145

0.148

0.128

1.307

0.001

0.314

0.017

0.009

0.016

0.789

0.129

0.112

1.142

0.001

0.274

0.015

0.008

0.014

0.689

0.868

8.848

0.006

2.129

0.114

0.060

0.105

5.344

10.200

0.007

2.454

0.132

0.069

0.121

6.159

0.001

0.241

0.013

0.007

0.012

0.604

354.786 19.060

10.020

17.526 890.520

0.054

0.028

0.049

2.510

0.526

0.918

46.724

1.749

88.889

0.873 6.770

7.750

HKD

7.803

8.935

1.153

GBP

0.765

0.876

0.113

KRW Shenzhen B-Share Stock Price Index

CNY

EUR

0.098

1128.320 1292.270 166.676 144.608 1474.710

BRL

3.180

3.647

0.470

0.408

4.157

0.003

RUB

59.188

67.774

8.744

7.585

77.372

0.052

18.610

JPY

112.610 128.940 16.633

14.431

147.201

0.100

35.408

1.902

INR

64.383

73.725

9.510

8.251

84.156

0.057

20.244

1.088

0.572

CAD

1.267

1.451

0.187

0.162

1.656

0.001

0.398

0.021

0.011

50.822 0.020

1120 1070

Data provided by

Daily Close % Chg –25%

Hang Seng Index Hang Seng China Ent Index TAIEX Taiwan Stock Index Nikkei 225 Sensex KOSPI S&P/ASX 200 New Zealand 50 Gross Index Straits Times Index STI Bangkok SET Index Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index VN-Index Dow Jones

26,470.58 10,783.19 10,457.54 20,118.86 32,097.77 2,425.10 5,755.47 7,699.57 3,298.21 1,576.16 1,753.92 768.91 21,637.74

YTD % Chg 0%

+25%

0.3 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 –0.2 0.7 0.3 –0.1 –0.1 –1.1 0.4

Commodities Brent Crude Oil (USD/bbl.) Gold (USD/t oz.) Silver (USD/t oz.) Copper (USD/lb.) Aluminum (USD/MT) Corn (USD/bu.) Wheat (USD/bu.) Soybeans (USD/bu.) Coffee (USD/lb.) Sugar #11 (USD/lb.) Palm Oil (MYR/MT)

Daily % Chg

49.09 1227.50 15.93 2.69 1908.75 3.76 5.11 10.02 1.34 0.14 2567.00

0.4 0.8 1.5 1.1 0.1 1.8 –0.2 1.4 0.0 –0.6 0.0

–30%

YTD % Chg 0%

+30%

ETFS

EUR

CNY

percent to 15 percent between 2010 and 2016, according to a survey published by the institute in early July. “It’s because compared with banking and insurance, securities has the biggest requirement for development and educational intervention, and regulators are used to understanding the need for professional education and certification needed (to do that job),” he said. With new technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data dealing a blow to financial professionals, Pollard stressed a renewed focus on the “human touch” while nurturing talent. The Institute is also updating its curriculum to include financial technology elements to stay relevant and practical, he said. “I don’t see it as the end of personal advice, but a way of making efficiencies in analyzing data. But the communication and interpretation of that data, at least for now, is still going to be a human interaction between organizations and clients,” he added.

International Stock Markets Daily % Chg

Cross Currency Rates 321.63

Shanghai B-Share Stock Price Index

SHA LANG / FOR CHINA DAILY

EQUITY ETFs China 50 China AMC CSI 300 Index China CSI 500 China SME China Universal CSI Consumer Staples Index E Fund ChiNext Price Index E Fund CSI 300 E Fund CSI 300 Financials ex Banks Index E Fund Hang Seng China Enterprises Index E FUND SZSE100 INDEX FUND Fortune SGAM Xianjin Tianyi Money Market Guangfa CSI 500 Guotai Shanghai Stock Exchange 180 Financial Index Harvest CSI 300 Index Huatai-Pinebridge CSI 300 Shanghai SSE180 SSE Pledge Urban Investment Bond Yinhua Traded Money Market Fund

Ticker

510050 510330 510500 159902 159928 159915 510310 512070 510900 159901 511990 510510 510230 159919 510300 510180 511220 511880

Daily % Change

2.67 3.98 6.18 3.22 1.71 1.57 1.56 1.91 1.19 4.33 100.01 1.63 6.07 3.99 3.70 3.32 93.73 101.93

0.15 –0.65 –3.92 –3.45 –1.33 –5.54 –0.89 –0.47 0.51 –2.52 –0.01 –3.89 0.86 –1.24 –1.36 –0.54 0.03 0.02

LIFE Tuesday, July 18, 2017

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

GUANGDONG SHOWS THE WAY An exhibition of hundreds of paintings and sculptures shows how one province shaped Chinese art since the early 20th century. Lin Qi reports.

he National Art Museum of China is for the first time using its 17 exhibition halls to trace the artistic evolution and influence of a single province. The Destined to Reform exhibition, now on at the Beijing museum, shows how artists from Guangdong province shaped Chinese art since the early 20th century. The show features more than 550 paintings and sculptures, which are on loan from public museums, cultural institutions and families of the artists. The central chamber on the first floor, the most important space in the museum, has ground-to-ceiling photos of 21 prominent members of the Guangdong artist collective. Guangdong, which occupies nearly one-fourth of the mainland’s coastline, was in the forefront of cultural exchanges and social transformations over the past century. The southern province was known for producing leaders of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, which led to the end of monarchy in China, and was the forerunner of the country’s opening-up and reform. It was also the birthplace of art reformers who modernized Chinese cultural traditions and was one of the places where contemporary Chinese art first began to flourish. “For the last 100 years, Guangdong has been the cradle of art. The first-generation artists from the province studied art in Europe and Japan in the early 20th century, and were also among the earliest Chinese to be exposed to art movements across the world,” says Xue Yongnian, a theorist from the Beijingbased China Artists Association. He says that among them were pioneers like Gao Jianfu (1879-1951), who called for reforms in both society and art. Gao, whose paintings are on show, co-founded the Lingnan School of Painting, an artists’ group in Guangdong, which revived the dying ink-brush tradition by introducing oil painting techniques. Gao graduated from the 130-year-old Tokyo Fine Arts

For the last 100 years, Guangdong has been the cradle of art.” Xue Yongnian, theorist, China Artists Association

The ongoing Destined to Reform exhibition at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing features more than 550 paintings and sculptures by artists from Guangdong province since the early 20th century. PHOTOS BY JIANG DONG / CHINA DAILY

If you go 9 am-5 pm, through Sunday. 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6400-1476.

School, now the Tokyo University of the Arts. And, with support from Sun Yat-sen, a renowned statesman who led the revolution that ended imperial rule in China, he was devoted to the dissemination of revolutionary ideas

and art education. The Tokyo school produced several modern Chinese artists, such as Li Xiongcai (19102001), a second-generation painter from the Lingnan school, whose works are also on show.

The exhibition features Li’s Patrol in Forest, which demonstrates his skill in depicting natural scenery. Chen Lyusheng, the former deputy head of the National Museum of China, says Guangdong’s artists played a

unique role in modern Chinese art, not only because they were open to foreign influences, such as oil painting, but because they cared about livelihoods. “They explored styles that suited the times and the

needs of the people. “And as they traveled to other parts of the country, they influenced artists there. As a result they became models for Chinese modern art.” The exhibition also celebrates attempts to renew the face of Chinese art by featuring works of painters like Guan Shanyue (1912-2000). A reproduction of his Jiangshan Ruci Duojiao (How Beautiful the Country Looks), is on show. Guan executed the 9-meter-long work with Fu Baoshi in 1959 on a State commission. The ink-brush painting, which depicts a magnificent sunrise, was inspired by a poem by the late Chairman Mao Zedong. Since its completion, it has adorned the entrance hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Contemporary artists such as Liang Quan, 69, are also represented at the show. Liang, who has exhibited at home and abroad, explores the idea of “emptiness” in Zen Buddhism. The exhibition also pays tribute to female artists from the first half of the 20th century. One of them is He Xiangning (1878-1972), who is known today more as a social activist and as the wife of senior statesman Liao Zhongkai. Her paintings depict lions. Li Jingkun, the head of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, says: “Good artworks are records of history, and by seeing them, one can trace the evolution of thought. “Viewers can see how artists felt obliged to participate in social transformations.” Contact the writer at linqi@chinadaily.com.cn

New exhibition gives glimpse of Michelangelo’s universe By LIN QI

As an artist and scholar, I needed to understand his mind and how his hands worked.” Antonio de Vito, curator of the show

Italian artist and art historian Giorgio Vasari (1511-74) published one of Michelangelo’s two biographies during the Florentine artist’s lifetime. He is also known for writing other artists’ biographies. Although he was criticized for favoring Florentine artists in his writings, most agree that his comments don’t exaggerate the status of David in art history. The original 5-meter-high statue of David is on display at the Gallery of the Academy of Florence. But a reproduction of the same size is now on show at the Bird’s Nest Culture Center, at Beijing’s National Stadium, the main venue for the 2008 Summer Olympics. It is the centerpiece of The Divine Michelangelo Art Exhibition, a show which runs through Oct 10. The show features copies of the Renaissance man’s most celebrated works and also his

architectural designs. In addition to David, the reproductions on show include The Pity, another signature work, which depicts a seated Mary holding the body of Jesus on her lap. The original is housed at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Michelangelo completed the two works before he reached the age of 30. The exhibition also has reproductions from another body of work — the frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. The scenes include The Creation of Adam. The reproductions are painted by Antonio de Vito, the exhibition’s Italian curator and also a fresco painter based in Florence. De Vito, who has also done copies of Michelangelo’s sketches and drawings, says that the idea behind the exhibition is to provide a look at the artist, so that when viewers finish their tour, they have a basic idea of Michelangelo’s great-

Visitors at the ongoing exhibition that showcases copies of Michelangelo’s most celebrated works and his architectural designs at the Bird’s Nest Culture Center in Beijing. PHOTOS BY JIANG DONG / CHINA DAILY

ness as a sculptor, a painter, an architect and a poet. “For Michelangelo, it was an easy job to create a comparison of light and shadow in his output,” he says. “That is why he was able to show such vivid faces in his sculptures and paintings. He conveyed the power of these

figures, rather than simply focusing on sculpting or painting the outlines.” A studio has also been re-created at the exhibition to show how Michelangelo sculpted and painted. De Vito will demonstrate in the studio how a fresco was painted in 15th-century Italy.

“As an artist and scholar, I needed to understand his mind and how his hands worked. “As I recreated these works I came to better understand how Michelangelo was different from other artists.” He adds that the exhibition also shows viewers the hardships Michelangelo faced when painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling. “Doing a fresco like that is complicated because painters have to execute their work very quickly before the fresh plaster and the pigment mixed with water get dried. “It became an even more difficult task for Michelangelo, because unlike many other artists of his time, he paid much attention to detail.” De Vito says Michelangelo worked with the same aim when doing sculptures and designing architectures. He says that when Michelangelo sculpted on a piece of marble, he wasn’t guided by the whole

picture. He started with the details. He says that because of the great difficulties involved, today there are very few fresco painters who employ techniques from the Middle Ages. He says that while Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael also tried doing frescoes, Da Vinci could not made a success out of it, while Rahpael had many people assisting him. In comparison, Michelangelo worked alone. De Vito says the exhibition shows that Michelangelo still connects with today’s world. He says that although technological advancements have brought much convenience, the Florentine master’s view still holds true that men should be the “managers” of themselves and should “defend” what they believe. “He sculpted David out of marble. He set an example of what an artist should do — creating something out of nothing.”

Dining | LIFE 19

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Ancient Brews reveals tasty history of alcohol

Making France’s day A recently opened bistro in Beijing celebrates the best of the country’s favorite foods, Mike Peters reports.

If you go Open for lunch and dinner six days a week (closed Mondays); 104 Cao Chang Plaza (across from the US embassy), 19 Tianze Lu, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5710-8106.

he French celebrated their national day on the weekend, an occasion that inspires plenty of Champagne-swilling and fine dining. But since the spirit of Bastille Day suggests a movement away from the Versailles-ish lifestyle, it’s a good time of year to explore French food that’s a little less gilded. Which is not to say less delicious. Beijing’s French restaurant scene has long favored the chandeliered style, but several excellent bistro-type eateries have opened in the capital lately. The latest is Bistro 108, tucked in a new dining street just opposite the US embassy and a stone’s throw from the French. The joys of a recent visit began for us in a glass: The house rose, not too dry and not too sweet, made for a smooth aperitif that also paired nicely with the seafood and duck dishes that came later. It’s a mere bagatelle on the bill at 25 yuan ($3.70) a glass. The restaurant represents the J.P. Chenet winery in China, giving it an exclusive opportunity to offer that value. Our recent visit began with a small plate of hot-from-theoven baguette, including some slices with a crispier crust. The restaurant orders the bread from outside halfbaked, our server tells us, and then pops it into the oven to be finished. There is, of course, real butter to go with it. Our starter choice was the most popular one, judging from a quick look around the small eatery. The cast-iron skillet of fruits de mer (of the sea) included tender squid, scallops, shrimps and some delectable tiny clams, fried with white wine and whipping cream flavored with fine herbs. It’s 58 yuan and generous enough to share if you’re also trying to save room for dessert. Mains were as sensational as local magazine reviews suggested they’d be. The confit canard (88

Clockwise from top: Fish tartare with crunch vegetable and passion fruit; gambas flambes au pastis, a trio of king prawns flamed in a boozy sauce with herbs and aniseed; canard, a French duck leg served with fried potatoes and a vegetable; au chocolat, or chocolate lava cake. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

yuan) is a French duck leg served with fried potatoes and a vegetable. The duck is French for reasons beyond snobbish authenticity. Chinese ducks, obviously of renowned quality, are quite different birds, a species chosen to produce fat

bodies and not so consequential limbs. The French, of course, are said to have an eye for a shapely leg, and for this traditional French classic, the leg is what it’s all about. So the restaurant sources big birds from the motherland raised to produce lean but substan-

tial legs. The final quick-fry gives it a deliciously crunchy skin that can get a bit oily if you allow the dish to cool, so get those WeChat shots done quickly and enjoy the hot, savory goodness. The vegetable on this day is a thick slice of tomato grilled

with herbs, a side that is often watery and forgettable. Here it’s a flavor bomb, reflecting the careful sourcing that owner Clement Bacri and chef Nadia Meliani clearly take pride in. This tomato was a triumph of summer ripeness, exploding with the earthy goodness of the countryside. We also tried the gambas flambes au pastis (158 yuan), a trio of king prawns flamed in a boozy sauce rich with herbs and aniseed. Beautifully presented with the shellfish sprouting from a mound of mashed potato, it’s served with a savory side of sauteed chopped tomatoes (again a star), yellow zucchini and tender asparagus. Lyons native Meliani has also won local praise for her beef dishes, including a zesty boef Bourguignon (88 yuan) braised in red wine with garlic, onions and fine herbs that sells out early. Cote de boef is an Australian prime rib of beef served with three kinds of sauces, mashed potatoes, fries and salad. At 568 yuan per kg, it’s the big-ticket item on a menu that overall is nicely medium-priced. Dessert is well-worth saving room for. It’s tempting to describe the fondant au chocolat, or chocolate lava cake, as Beijing’s best, but we tend to think that about every version of this sweet we’ve ever met. Suffice it to say this one is pure delight. The same can be said for the apple tart, a thin-crust apple pie that ripples across the plate to give a scoop of vanilla ice cream a warming embrace. The restaurant’s name is a bit of a dodge on bad luck. The actual address is 104 — not a happy number in Chinese — so the name became Bistro 108. “I’ve been a food lover since I was born, and it was my dream since I was a kid to open my own place one day,” says Bacri, whose professional background is in fashion and events. “I was waiting for the right place and the right moment.” We’d say the moment has arrived. Contact the writer at michaelpeters@ chinadaily.com.cn

It’s easy to find cold brews on summer days, but here’s a twist: a journey back to the alcoholic beverages that people drank thousands of years ago. Patrick McGovern, a renowned scientist and passionate lover of fermented beverages, brings the history of ancient brewing alive with this fun, tempting and thoughtprovoking book, Ancient Brews: Rediscovered & Re-created. McGovern is director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Project at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. For more than three decades he’s been a pioneer in archaeological chemistry — a field that combines old-school fieldwork with cutting-edge technology such as mass spectrometry and DNA analysis. The new lab tools are able to identify the chemical makeup of astonishingly small beverage traces that remain on ancient artifacts, such as the stains on beverage containers found in the Egyptian pyramids. McGovern and other researchers then match the chemical fingerprints to various grains, fruits and spices, and come up with a kind of reverse recipe, brought to life thousands of years after the original beverage was originally consumed. Ancient Brews is a geeky and tasty way to learn about ancient history, and the science of booze. McGovern explains the chemistry of fermentation, the molecular components of alcohol (two carbon atoms, six hydrogen, one oxygen) and how our love of alcohol probably originated more than 100 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period, when flowering plants appeared and fruit flies developed specific genes to process alcohol. But McGovern isn’t entrenched in the past. The bookcontainsnumerousrecipes forhomebrewers,createdincollaboration with Sam Calagione, founder of Delaware’s Dogfish Head Brewery. There are also food suggestions based on archaeological findings. The recipe for the accompanying beverage has some

Ancient Brews: Rediscovered & Re-created, by Patrick McGovern, brings the history of ancient brewing alive. AP

familiar beer ingredients (malt extract, honey and hops) but also twists: saffron threads and grape juice. That’s a theme in the book: McGovern shows that people had exotic tastes thousands of years ago, all over the world. Numerous archaeological sites now reveal that ancient people often combined what we call beer (fermented grains) with wine (fermented grapes), and also experimented by adding a vast range of local herbs and flavorings. Ancient Brews includes history, science and recipes for several other drinks: Kvasir, inspired by evidence from a 3,500-year-old Danish tomb, uses meadowsweet (or mead wort), yarrow, birch bark and lingonberry. TaHenket,inspiredbyancient African beverages, includes crushed wheat, flour, hops, dried dates, Irish moss, chamomile, Za’atar (a Middle Eastern spice) and a touch of salt. Chateau Jiahu goes farthest back in time, to 9,000 years ago in northern China, where people made a beverage that combined fermented rice, grape juice, honey, hawthorne and orange peel. McGovern’s mix of gee-wiz science and thoughtful historical context makes Ancient Brews a refreshing read, for the summer or any other season. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Study finds that consuming more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish may boost one’s chances of living longer. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Small diet changes may prolong life: study MIAMI — It’s hard to eat right all the time, but making small improvements by choosing healthier foods now and then may significantly boost one’s chances of living longer, says a US study. The report in the New England Journal of Medicine is the first to show that improving diet quality over at least a dozen years is associated with lower total and cardiovascular mortality. Researchers at Harvard University tracked dietary changes in a population of nearly 74,000 health professionals who logged their eating habits every four years. Researchers used a system of diet-quality scores to assess how much diets had improved. For instance, a 20-percentile increase in scores could “be achieved by swapping out just one serving of red or processed meat for one daily serving of nuts or legumes,” says a summary of the research. Over the 12-year span, those

who ate a little better than they did at the start — primarily by consuming more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish — saw an eight to 17 percent lower risk of dying prematurely in the next 12 years. Those whose diets got worse over time saw a higher risk of dying in the next 12 years of follow-up, on the order of a six to 12 percent increase. “Our results highlight the long-term health benefits of improving diet quality with an emphasis on overall dietary patterns rather than on individual foods or nutrients,” says senior author Frank Hu, professor and chair of the Harvard Chan School Department of Nutrition. “A healthy eating pattern can be adopted according to individuals’ food and cultural preferences and health conditions,” he adds. “There is no one-size-fits-all diet.” AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

20 LIFE | Culture

Tuesday, July 18, 2017 CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

3-D used to make Bronze Age man’s face

Email Trek, an installation by Chinese artist Xu Wenkai, is on display at the Beijing exhibition Heart of the Tin Man.

PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Heart of the matter An ongoing art show in Beijing sheds light on the importance of human emotions in our tech era. Xing Yi reports.

dozen artists are presenting an exhibition by simulating sight, smell, touch and sound at the M. Woods Museum in Beijing. Running from July 1 to Oct 8, it is titled Heart of the Tin Man, and reveals alternative modes of creativity and expressions. The curator of the exhibition, Huang Xufu, is also a co-founder of the museum. Huang, 23, has just graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. On the opening night of his first curated show, he was busy showing people around. The idea of the show came after he met one of the artists whose work is on display. “During one of my visits to Austine Lee (the artist), he spray-painted an image of me while I was ‘glued’ to the phone,” Huang says. “I look like a ‘tin man’ in the painting.” Speaking about the concept of “tin man” — the show’s theme, Huang says technology enables people to share information quickly and freely and everyone has a wider access to information and a chance to be heard. But at the same time, it’s eating up people’s lives so much that they have stopped paying attention

An installation (left) by US artist Sean Raspet and Falling Cat, a painting by US artist Austin Lee.

The exhibition is focusing on the two sides of technology, encouraging people to quit technology for a while.” Huang Xufu, curator

If you go 10:30 am-6 pm, through Oct 8, Mondays closed. D-06, 798 Art Zone, 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 1881-1525-835.

to real things, such as their emotions. British artist Gillian Wearing showcases her project Your Views, which she put together after inviting people across the globe to upload onto her website short video clips taken from windows. It is “the largest collaborative film ever made”, says Wearing. As curtains open, the screens show vistas from Kobe to Alaska. It reminded people at once of the world’s vastness and connectivity through different ways. “In places where technology is fairly underdeveloped, for instance, Africa, we get the most fabulous views,” Huang says. “The exhibition is focusing on the two sides of technology, encouraging people to quit technology for a while and to feel the world with their original senses.” Another co-founder of the museum, Lei Wanying, better

known as Wanwan, says the metaphor of the “tin man” comes from The Wizard of Oz, in which the character is looking for a real heart. “With the increasing forms of art and the integration with technology, the essence of art is never changed by its medium or shape, because it has heart,” says Lei. Lei’s favorite part of the exhibition is a replica of a room, where artist Yang Zi works and lives when she visits the Labrang Monastery in the Gannan Tibet autonomous prefecture in Gansu province. In the 4-square-meter room stands a table on top of which are placed several smartphones with drawings created by the artist. Yang used to live in a big city before she moved to the lesser developed region. Now, the focus of her daily life is observation and meditation. “My mind is very clear, I don’t even dream at night, and

I get up very early every morning,” Yang says. “I know exactly what to do, one thing that does not change is that I crank the prayer wheel every day.” The living conditions aren’t perfect in Gannan, with limited daily resources and the lack of entertainment options. Yang relies a lot on her smartphone for drawing after she found out about software she can use to create her new worlds, especially in red, yellow, blue, green and white — the colors representing the elements fire, land, water, wind and the sky. These five colors are found in prayer banners that flutter in Gannan and other places where Buddhism is popular. “It’s not important for the audience to see my drawings, the important thing is to make them sit down and spend a minute to think about how I made them, and then they must be connected to my art,” Yang says. “We should pay more attention to our hearts, and it’s the aim of the exhibition to activate the emotions inside us.” Another eye-catching installation on display is Dominae Illud Opus Populare by British artist Ryan Gander. With the technology of facial recognition and motion sensor, a pair of animatronic eyes is replying to people’s facial expressions with emotions including surprise, anger, curiosity and concern. The relation between artworks and audiences is overturned — the observers are now observed by the artwork, the artist explains. Xu Haoyu contributed to this story. Contact the writer at xingyi@chinadaily.com.cn

LONDON — Academic “time detectives” from Liverpool have used 3-D digital technology to reveal the face of a Bronze Age farmer who lived in middle England 4,000 years ago. Experts from Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University used the technology based on a study of the man’s skull. The man’s skeleton was found in an ancient burial ground in the county of Derbyshire in the 1930s. For the past 30 years the bone remains have been part of a collection at Derbyshire’s Buxton Museum in a scenic area of Britain known as the Peak District. But until now nobody had been able to imagine what the man looked like in life. The project is part of a heritage effort to connect the museum’s collections to the surrounding landscape. Joe Perry, assistant collections officer at the museum, says it was important to put a face to the Bronze Age remains. Caroline Wilkinson from Face Lab says clay was used in the technique to help build the face. It is always a thrill to see

the process work on ancient people, she says, adding: “It’s a surprise to people when they look like us, it creates more empathy.” The skull of the man was found damaged inside a stone box at the old burial ground known as Liff’s Low. A type of beaker and a stone pendant were found along with the human remains. Perry says there was a need for humanity with the Liff’s Low skeleton. “We need to make people think about the skeleton as a person who lived and worked in Derbyshire. We have a duty of care to the deceased, we wanted to emphasize that these are people,” he says. Perry says the man could have been about 35 when he died and spent his life farming within the district. It is believed the stone box he was buried in collapsed, causing damage to the front of his skull. The remains, along with the image of the Peak District’s most famous farmer, will go on public display when the museum reopens in September. XINHUA

Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, hosts a ceremony to pay tribute to the sage on April 2. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Confucius museum to open in 2018 JINAN — A Confucius museum under construction in the hometown of the ancient Chinese educator and philosopher will be home to more than 700,000 relics, including well-known Confucius family documents, sources with the museum said on Saturday. A display plan of the museum, which is expected to open in the second half of 2018, was finalized following a meeting in Qufu city of Shandong province earlier this month. The major museum complex in Qufu consists of an 11,000-square-meter display area, 7,000 square meters of warehouses and a 1,000square-meter cultural heritage restoration center, says

deputy curator Yang Jinquan. The items to be displayed on rotation include more than 300,000 documents of the Confucius family from the Ming Dynasty (13681644) up to 1948 that contain details of the family history during feudal times. In addition, there will be more than 40,000 books dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and more than 8,000 pieces of clothing and accessoriesfromtheMingand Qing (1368-1911) dynasties. Confucius (551-479 BC), an educator and philosopher, founded Confucianism, a school of thought that deeply influenced later Chinese generations. XINHUA

Ancient art inspires ink painter to create modern work By DENG ZHANGYU dengzhangyu@chinadaily.com.cn

Ma Xiaotian has been painting lotus flowers at his studio in Beijing even in the July heat. The ink painter says the dark green leaves and pink flowers on paper “have a magical power to cool his body and mind”. He has just completed a painting, more than 1 meter in height, which took him three days to finish, from early morning to late night. “When painting lotus leaves, I use the technique of lishu (a style of Chinese calligraphy),” says the 55-year-old artist. Lotus is one of his favorite topics. The painter has also painted figures, birds and flowers, and landscapes — all

of which have been included in his new book released in spring. A solo show is under plan and will be held by the end of the year, he says. The book has more than 100 pieces of ink-and-wash paintings, almost half of which are figures, such as men fishing on a boat, children dragging a cow or an old man playing the guqin (a traditional zither) under a tall tree. The earliest figure painting in the book is one depicting a beautiful woman in ancient clothing, which Ma painted at the age 17. The piece won him a national prize and encouraged him to explore the art form for a lifetime. Unlike many other Chinese painters who went to art colleges to learn the skills, Ma

Ma Xiaotian works on his ink creation in his Beijing studio. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

didn’t train at such an institute. He learned from different painters he admired. The Beijing native started painting in his teens. He also

started to work at a communication company by the time he was 17. He spent all his spare time on ink paintings after work. He tried his best to

make friends with master painters, such as Huang Yongyu, and learn from them in person. “Only when I paint I feel like myself and I feel happy,” the artist says. Li Yanan, a longtime friend of his, says Ma usually uses his ink brush instead of a pen to take notes during meetings. Ma once ran a telecommunication business and set up a separate painting space at his office. “We were shocked that he suddenly closed down his business five years ago and said he would devote all his time to Chinese painting,” Li says. In the last five years, Ma has learned different styles from ancient and modern masters, while trying to find his style. Although he has tried various

techniques, the one thing he has stuck to is painting based on ancient skills but with a modern mindset. He says he is a firm defender of traditional Chinese painting, which both looks good and reflects the painters’ inner mind. “We should have confidence in our own culture and art,” says Ma, wearing a Chinesestyle jacket and sitting at a tea table. He likes to read books and ancient Chinese poems. In his studio, there are lots of books on his desks and bookshelves. “Chinese art emphasizes the cultivation of a person’s mind. It needs one’s life experience, knowledge of literature and great painting techniques,” says Ma, adding that a lifetime is needed to explore such art.

The Mountain and the Boat in the Fall, ink painting by Ma.

Fun | LIFE 21

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Language tips

Horoscope Crossword

Capricorn (DEC. 22-JAN. 19)

BETTER CHINESE

Share your feelings and make your intentions clear. Stick to the truth and be willing to compromise to please a friend, family member or co-worker.

Aquarius (JAN. 20-FEB. 19) You are best off being secretive until you have a solid idea to offer. Emotional disputes are likely to develop if you disagree with a partner, friend or relative.

Pisces (FEB. 20-MARCH 20)

Aries (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)

They searched that village so thoroughly that even a cat could not have escaped.

Emotional matters will mount. Look for a way to compromise in order to avoid an unexpected change of plans. A frugal approach to personal and domestic problems is encouraged.

Gemini (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a false sense of your assets and capabilities. Money matters should be dealt with conservatively. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend what you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have. Focus on self-awareness and physical improvements.

Cancer (JUNE 21-JULY 22)

Leo (JULY 23-AUG. 22) Stick to the script. If you exaggerate, you will end up in an emotional situation that will slow down your efforts to get ahead. Personal improvements can be made.

Virgo (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)

Yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solution

Comics DILBERT

F-MINUS

Down 1 Jessica of Dark

Angel 2 Hairdo 3 Fully informed, informally 4 Four: Prefix 5 The â&#x20AC;&#x153;pâ&#x20AC;? of mph 6 In single file 7 Group of experts 8 9 Opposite of masc 10 Travel like Superman 11 Alphabetically last animal in a zoo, usually 12 Clearance rack abbr 13 Swap 18 Slippery

22 Like pigsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tails and permed hair 24 Samsung competitor 25 Fastidious sort 26 Neuter, as a stud 27 ___ Major 28 Like a well-kept lawn 32 Depardieu of film 34 Pool unit 36 Period of higherthan-average temperatures 37 Charles Lambâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Essays of ___ 38 Kitchen amts 40 Office sub 41 Important time at a fraternity or sorority 46 â&#x20AC;&#x153;How tragicâ&#x20AC;? 48 Kelly of morning TV 50 Won the World Series in four games, say 51 Edmonton hockey player 52 Togetherness 53 Terra ___ 54 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Put up your ___!â&#x20AC;? 58 Guthrie who performed at Woodstock 59 Future attyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hurdle 61 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Naughty!â&#x20AC;? 62 Abbr in a military address 63 Things eds edit

$% & # Literally means a bulb; a euphemism for an unwelcome addition äž&#x2039;ďź&#x161;ä˝ äťŹäżŠĺ&#x17D;ťč°&#x2C6;ä˝ äťŹç&#x161;&#x201E;ĺ?§, ć&#x2C6;&#x2018;ĺ?Żä¸?ć&#x192;łĺ&#x153;¨ć&#x2014; čžšĺ &#x161;ç ŻćłĄă&#x20AC;&#x201A; ' (" ' !) * +, !" # ! - & # . You both go. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be a third wheel.

Consider the consequences of your actions before you proceed. A carefully considered plan will serve you far better than an impulsive move. Form an alliance with a trustworthy peer.

50 Popular movie theater candy 55 Kite flierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need 56 Plant, as seeds 57 Like the stage after larval 60 QB Manning 61 Influential sorts â&#x20AC;Ś or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 39- and 50-Across 64 Teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ___ 65 Sudden runs 66 ___ Enchanted (2004 rom-com) 67 Attempt 68 Classic cameras 69 Where to drop a coin

äž&#x2039;ďź&#x161;äť&#x2013;äťŹĺŻšé&#x201A;Łä¸Şć?&#x2018;čż&#x203A;čĄ&#x152;ĺ&#x153;°ćŻŻĺź?ć?&#x153;ç´˘, čż&#x17E;ĺ?Şç&#x152;Ťé&#x192;˝ ä¸?äź&#x161;čˇ&#x2018;ć&#x17D;&#x2030;ă&#x20AC;&#x201A;

!" #

Taurus (APRIL 20-MAY 20)

29 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___-hoo!â&#x20AC;? (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hello!â&#x20AC;?) 30 Nostradamus, for one 31 The Witches director Nicolas 33 NBC weekend show since â&#x20AC;&#x2122;75 35 Completely wrong 39 Golden parachutes, eg 42 Peace Nobelist Sakharov 43 Title like â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Santa Clauseâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knight and Dayâ&#x20AC;? 44 Faucet problem 45 Prefix with dexterity 47 Galahad or Lancelot 49 Pasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; partners

A term for a thorough and complete investigation

Take part in your community or in things that friends and relatives are doing. What you contribute will be rewarded with favors that will help you advance.

An interesting idea will give you something to explore as a prospect. There is money to be made if you turn something you enjoy doing into a moneymaking venture.

Across 1 ___ above (better than) 5 Run oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mouth 11 Bit of acne, informally 14 Unhurried run 15 Protective tooth layer 16 Blunder 17 Archfoe 19 Bikini top 20 Previous to, in poetry 21 Say â&#x20AC;&#x153;Please, please, please,â&#x20AC;? say 22 Rep on the street 23 Profanity 27 Official sometimes said to be blind

Attend an event that will be conducive to meeting people in your profession. The more contacts you make, the easier it will be for you to advance.

Libra (SEPT. 23-OCT. 23) Refuse to follow the crowd. If something doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appeal to you or appears to be too risky, you are best off remaining a spectator and learning from what you see.

/0123 - 45 6 Poorly constructed buildings äž&#x2039;ďź&#x161;ć&#x2013;°ç&#x203A;&#x2013;ç&#x161;&#x201E;ćĽźć&#x2C6;żďź&#x152;ć˛Ąčż&#x2021;ä¸&#x20AC;ĺš´ĺ°ąĺĄ&#x152;äş&#x2020;ďź&#x152;čż&#x2122;ĺ°ąć&#x2DC;Żć&#x153;&#x20AC;ĺ&#x2026;¸ĺ&#x17E;&#x2039;ç&#x161;&#x201E; čą&#x2020;č&#x2026;?ć¸ŁĺˇĽç¨&#x2039;ă&#x20AC;&#x201A; 7 4 6 - 8 " " - 45 6 . The new building collapsed within one year of its construction â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a typical â&#x20AC;&#x153;jerry-builtâ&#x20AC;? project. China Daily with contributions from Popular Chinese Expressions, Sinolingua Press

Scorpio (OCT. 24-NOV. 22) What you do will make a difference, but what you say will lead to trouble. If you do something nice for someone you love or trust, you will get something special in return.

BETTER ENGLISH

Sagittarius (NOV. 23-DEC. 21) Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have plenty to say and to offer, but use diplomacy to avoid an emotional backlash. Someone will be hurt if you are too blunt about what you think about him or her.

ć?&#x192;ĺ¨ ç&#x161;&#x201E;ă&#x20AC;&#x160;ç&#x2030;&#x203A;ć´Ľč&#x2039;ąčŻčŻ?ĺ&#x2026;¸ă&#x20AC;&#x2039;ć&#x153;&#x20AC;čż&#x2018;ć&#x203A;´ć&#x2013;°ç&#x161;&#x201E;ç˝&#x2018;çť&#x153;ç&#x2030;&#x2C6;čŻ?ĺş&#x201C;ä¸ďź&#x152; ç˝&#x2018;ç?&#x192;čż?ĺ&#x160;¨č´Ąç&#x152;Žäş&#x2020;80ĺ¤&#x161;ä¸Şć&#x2013;°čŻ?ĺ&#x2019;&#x152;ç&#x;čŻă&#x20AC;&#x201A;ç&#x2C6;ąčż?ĺ&#x160;¨ç&#x161;&#x201E;ä˝ ďź&#x152; ä¸&#x20AC;čľˇć?Ľç&#x153;&#x2039;ç&#x153;&#x2039;ĺ?§ă&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Bridge Hawkwind, an English rock band, in a song called Sea King, has this lyric: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unbid to him comes a rune once taught.â&#x20AC;? We have been looking at negative doubles that show length in an unbid major. But what happens when there is no unbid major, as in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deal? Now a negative double promises length in both minor suits. (If North had been stronger, he would have responded two clubs; but with insufficient power to bid immediately at the two-level, he starts with a negative double.) Southâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t perfect with those three losing spades, but it would be cautious to rebid less than four hearts. What should the result be after West leads the spade king? If only South could gain the lead, he could collect a lot of tricks. Now, though, the defenders are in control. First, East must overtake the spade king with his ace. Then he leads back his second spade. West takes two more tricks in the suit, and East should discard a dis-

ă&#x20AC;&#x160;ç&#x2030;&#x203A;ć´Ľč&#x2039;ąčŻčŻ?ĺ&#x2026;¸ă&#x20AC;&#x2039;ĺ˘&#x17E;ćˇťç˝&#x2018;ç?&#x192;ć&#x2013;°čŻ?

superbrat: players prone to on-court outbursts čś&#x2026;çş§ĺ°?ĺ?ďź&#x161;ć&#x152;&#x2021;ĺ&#x153;¨ĺ&#x153;şä¸&#x160;ĺŽšć&#x2DC;&#x201C;ć&#x161;´ć&#x20AC;&#x2019;ĺ?&#x2018;č&#x201E;žć°&#x201D;ç&#x161;&#x201E;äşş changeover: a pause in a match when players swap ends of the court äş¤ć?˘ĺ&#x153;şĺ&#x153;°: ćŻ&#x201D;čľ&#x203A;ä¸é&#x20AC;&#x201D;ć&#x161;&#x201A;ĺ &#x153;ďź&#x152;ç?&#x192;ĺ&#x2018;&#x2DC;äş¤ć?˘ĺ&#x153;şĺ&#x153;° forced error: a mistake in play generated by an opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skill couraging diamond two. What happens next? West should realize that his side has no more sidesuit tricks available. The bidding and Eastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signal mark declarer with the diamond ace. Also, if South needs a club finesse to work, it will. The defenders must try to gain a trump trick. West should lead a fourth spade. Then, if East is in midseason form, he will ruff with the heart 10, which effects an uppercut. South will overruff, but then West gains a trump trick, the defenseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth winner. When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken all possible side-suit tricks, try for a trump promotion.

Kakuro

ĺ?&#x2014;čżŤć&#x20AC;§ĺ¤ąčŻŻ: ĺ&#x203A; ä¸şĺŻšć&#x2030;&#x2039;ç?&#x192;ć&#x2030;&#x201C;ĺž&#x2014;ĺĽ˝ďź&#x152;č&#x2021;Şĺˇąć˛Ąĺ¤&#x201E;ç?&#x2020;ĺĽ˝ č&#x20AC;&#x152;ĺ&#x2021;şç&#x17D;°ç&#x161;&#x201E;ĺ¤ąčŻŻ bagel: a visual pun to describe the score in a set of six games to love (the 0 looks like the zero-shaped bread roll) ćťĄç&#x203A;&#x2DC;ç&#x161;&#x2020;čž&#x201C;: č§&#x2020;č§&#x2030;ĺ?&#x152;ĺ&#x2026;łčŻďź&#x152;ĺ˝˘ĺŽš0:6ćťĄç&#x203A;&#x2DC;ç&#x161;&#x2020;čž&#x201C;(ďź?ĺ˝˘äźź ç&#x201D;&#x153;ç&#x201D;&#x153;ĺ&#x153;&#x2C6;) tennis mom/dad: parents who actively support their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playing ambitions. ç˝&#x2018;ç?&#x192;ĺŚ&#x2C6;ĺŚ&#x2C6;(ç&#x2C6;¸ç&#x2C6;¸): ç§Żć&#x17E; ć&#x201D;Żć&#x152; ĺŠĺ?ć&#x2030;&#x201C;ç˝&#x2018;ç?&#x192;ç&#x161;&#x201E;ç&#x2C6;śćŻ? č&#x2039;ąć źĺ&#x2026;°č?&#x2030;ĺ&#x153;şç˝&#x2018;ç?&#x192;ĺ&#x2019;&#x152;é&#x2014;¨ç?&#x192;ĺ??äź&#x161;äşşĺŁŤčĄ¨ç¤şďź&#x152;ä¸&#x20AC;äş&#x203A;16ä¸&#x2013;çşŞ ĺ°ąĺ&#x2021;şç&#x17D;°ç&#x161;&#x201E;ç˝&#x2018;ç?&#x192;ć&#x153;ŻčŻčż&#x2122;ćŹĄäš&#x;č˘Ťçşłĺ&#x2026;Ľă&#x20AC;&#x160;ç&#x2030;&#x203A;ć´Ľč&#x2039;ąčŻčŻ?ĺ&#x2026;¸ă&#x20AC;&#x2039;ďź&#x152; ćŻ&#x201D;ĺŚ&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x153;loveă&#x20AC; deuceĺ&#x2019;&#x152;advantageâ&#x20AC;?ç&#x2030;ă&#x20AC;&#x201A;čż&#x2122;äş&#x203A;čŻ?čŻć&#x153;ŹčşŤ ć&#x153;&#x2030;č&#x2021;Şĺˇąç&#x161;&#x201E;ĺ?Ťäš&#x2030;ďź&#x152;ä˝&#x2020;ĺ&#x153;¨ç˝&#x2018;ç?&#x192;čż?ĺ&#x160;¨ä¸ć&#x153;&#x2030;ç&#x2030;šĺŽ&#x161;ĺ?Ťäš&#x2030;ă&#x20AC;&#x201A; love: a score of 0 é&#x203A;śĺ&#x2C6;&#x2020;: ç˝&#x2018;ç?&#x192;čż?ĺ&#x160;¨ä¸ďź&#x152;loveć&#x152;&#x2021;ĺž&#x2014;é&#x203A;śĺ&#x2C6;&#x2020; deuce: a tied score in tennis, and one player or side must win 2 successive points to win the game. ĺą&#x20AC;ć&#x153;Ťĺšłĺ&#x2C6;&#x2020;ďź&#x161;ć&#x152;&#x2021;ĺą&#x20AC;ć&#x153;Ťĺ?&#x152;ć&#x2013;šé&#x20AC;&#x2030;ć&#x2030;&#x2039;ĺšłĺ&#x2C6;&#x2020;ć&#x192;&#x2026;ĺ&#x2020;ľďź&#x152;čż&#x2122;ć&#x2014;śĺ?Şć&#x153;&#x2030;ä¸&#x20AC;ć&#x2013;š čż&#x17E;čľ˘ä¸¤ç?&#x192;ć&#x2030;?č&#x192;˝č&#x17D;ˇĺž&#x2014;ć&#x153;Źĺą&#x20AC;č&#x192;&#x153;ĺ&#x2C6;Š advantage: the point scored after deuce

PEANUTS

é˘&#x2020;ĺ&#x2026;&#x2C6;ä¸&#x20AC;ĺ&#x2C6;&#x2020;: ć&#x152;&#x2021;deuceć&#x192;&#x2026;ĺ&#x2020;ľä¸&#x2039;é˘&#x2020;ĺ&#x2026;&#x2C6;ä¸&#x20AC;ĺ&#x2C6;&#x2020;ă&#x20AC;&#x201A;

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DRABBLE

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22 ANNOUNCEMENT

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TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE (Chapter 131) APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION SUBMISSION OF FURTHER INFORMATION Pursuant to section 16(2D)(b) of the Town Planning Ordinance (the Ordinance), the Town Planning Board (the Board) has published newspaper notice(s) of the planning application(s) made under section 16(1) of the Ordinance as set out in the Schedule below. Pursuant to section 16(2K) of the Ordinance, the Board has accepted further information from the applicant(s) to supplement the information included in the application(s). The further information is now available for SXEOLF LQVSHFWLRQ GXULQJ QRUPDO RIÂ¿FH KRXUV DW WKH IROORZLQJ ORFDWLRQV (i) WKH 3ODQQLQJ (QTXLU\ &RXQWHU WK )ORRU 1RUWK 3RLQW *RYHUQPHQW 2IÂ¿FHV -DYD 5RDG 1RUWK 3RLQW +RQJ .RQJ DQG (ii) WKH 3ODQQLQJ (QTXLU\ &RXQWHU WK )ORRU 6KD 7LQ *RYHUQPHQW 2IÂ¿FHV 6KHXQJ :R &KH 5RDG 6KD 7LQ 1HZ 7HUULWRULHV In accordance with sections 16(2K)(c) and 16(2F) of the Ordinance, any person may make comment to the Board in respect of the further information. The comment should state the application number to which the comment relates and should be made to the Secretary, Town Planning Board by hand, post (15th )ORRU 1RUWK 3RLQW *RYHUQPHQW 2IÂ¿FHV -DYD 5RDG 1RUWK 3RLQW +RQJ .RQJ ID[ RU RU H PDLO WSESG#SODQG JRY KN RU WKURXJK WKH %RDUGÂ¶V ZHEVLWH KWWS ZZZ LQIR JRY KN WSE QRW ODWHU WKDQ WKH GDWH VSHFLÂ¿HG LQ WKH 6FKHGXOH Any person who intends to make comment is advised to read the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Town Planning Board Guidelines on Publication of Applications for Amendment of Plan, 3ODQQLQJ 3HUPLVVLRQ DQG 5HYLHZ DQG 6XEPLVVLRQ RI &RPPHQWV RQ 9DULRXV $SSOLFDWLRQV XQGHU WKH 7RZQ 3ODQQLQJ 2UGLQDQFHÂ´ WKH *XLGHOLQHV IRU GHWDLOV 7KH *XLGHOLQHV DUH DYDLODEOH DW WKH DERYH ORFDWLRQV WKH 6HFUHWDULDW RI WKH %RDUG WK )ORRU 1RUWK 3RLQW *RYHUQPHQW 2IÂ¿FHV -DYD 5RDG 1RUWK 3RLQW +RQJ Kong) as well as the Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/). In accordance with sections 16(2K)(c) and 16(2I) of the Ordinance, any comment made to the Board will be available for public inspection during normal RIÂ¿FH KRXUV DW ORFDWLRQV L DQG LL DERYH XQWLO WKH %RDUG KDV FRQVLGHUHG WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ LQ TXHVWLRQ XQGHU VHFWLRQ The gists of the applications (including location plans) can be viewed at the above locations, the Secretariat of the Board and the Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. The tentative date of the Board to consider the application has been uploaded to the Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/). The meeting for FRQVLGHULQJ SODQQLQJ DSSOLFDWLRQV H[FHSW WKH GHOLEHUDWLRQ SDUWV ZLOO EH RSHQ WR WKH SXEOLF )RU REVHUYDWLRQ RI WKH PHHWLQJ UHVHUYDWLRQ RI VHDW FDQ EH PDGH ZLWK WKH 6HFUHWDULDW RI WKH %RDUG E\ WHOHSKRQH ID[ RU RU H PDLO WSESG#SODQG JRY KN DW OHDVW RQH GD\ EHIRUH WKH PHHWLQJ 6HDWV ZLOO EH DOORFDWHG RQ D Â¿UVW FRPH Â¿UVW VHUYHG EDVLV The paper for consideration of the Board in relation to the application will be available for public inspection after issue to the Board Members at the Planning (QTXLU\ &RXQWHUV RI WKH 3ODQQLQJ 'HSDUWPHQW +RWOLQH DQG DW WKH 3XEOLF 9LHZLQJ 5RRP RQ WKH GD\ RI PHHWLQJ $IWHU WKH %RDUG KDV FRQVLGHUHG WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ HQTXLU\ DERXW WKH GHFLVLRQ PD\ EH PDGH DW WHO QR RU RU WKH JLVW RI WKH GHFLVLRQ FDQ EH viewed at the Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website after the meeting. Statement on Personal Data The personal data submitted to the Board in any comment will be used by the Secretary of the Board and Government departments for the following purposes: D WKH SURFHVVLQJ RI WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ ZKLFK LQFOXGHV PDNLQJ DYDLODEOH WKH QDPH RI WKH SHUVRQ PDNLQJ WKH FRPPHQW KHUHDIWHU NQRZQ DV Â³FRPPHQWHUÂ´ IRU SXEOLF LQVSHFWLRQ ZKHQ PDNLQJ DYDLODEOH WKH FRPPHQW IRU SXEOLF LQVSHFWLRQ DQG E IDFLOLWDWLQJ FRPPXQLFDWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH Â³FRPPHQWHUÂ´ DQG WKH 6HFUHWDU\ RI WKH %RDUG *RYHUQPHQW GHSDUWPHQWV in accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance and the relevant Town Planning Board Guidelines. Schedule Application No. $ </ KTN/522

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Deadline for Making Comment on the Further Information 3URSRVHG 5HVLGHQWLDO The applicant submitted Further -XO\ Development (Flats) Information which includes revised technical impact assessments: (QYLURQPHQWDO $VVHVVPHQW 7UDIÂ¿F Impact Assessment, Drainage Impact Assessment, Ecological Impact Assessment, Sewage ,PSDFW $VVHVVPHQW $LU 9HQWLODWLRQ $VVHVVPHQW DQG :DWHU 6XSSOLHV Impact Assessment, as well as responses to departmental comments. Applied Use/ Development

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SPORTS 23

CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, July 18, 2017

ICE HOCKEY

Dynamic duo

Red Star set for Canada challenge China’s women embrace chance to face off against ‘best of the best’ By CHINA DAILY

China’s Ren Qian and Si Yajie compete en route to winning the gold medal in the women's 10m synchronized platform diving final at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday. In other results, Peng Jianfeng clinched the men’s 1m springboard title, and Chinese twins Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting took the silver medal in synchronized swimming, bringing China’s tally after two days of finals to three golds and three silvers. TIBOR ILLYES/MTI VIA AP

MOTOR SPORTS

Silver lining lifts Lewis gloom SILVERSTONE, England — Just like his tire, Sebastian Vettel’s championship advantage was shredded at the British Grand Prix. A 20-point lead was slashed to a single point by Lewis Hamilton after the Mercedes driver went wire-to-wire to snare his fourth win of the season as Vettel capitulated halfway through the campaign. Vettel was never in realistic contention for victory on Sunday, but was still third entering the penultimate lap — a finish that would have ensured 10 points still separated him from Hamilton. But Silverstone witnessed a remarkable collapse, a final twist on an afternoon of thrilling racing. A front-left blowout on Vettel’s Ferrari sent rubber remnants of the tire flying across the track as the four-time world champion crawled back into the pits for repairs just in time. It ensured Vettel was still able to finish seventh and collect the points that kept him top heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 30. “It could have been a bit better for sure, but a disaster? I don’t think so,” Vettel said. “I don’t think there is anyone particularly to blame.” Troublingly for Ferrari, Vettel’s tire trouble struck a lap after teammate Kimi Raikkonen’s car also experienced a puncture as he was set for second. It allowed Valtteri Bottas to complete a Mercedes one-

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is carried by fans after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone, England, on Sunday. FRANK AUGSTEIN / AP

two with Hamilton, with Raikkonen third. “I don’t wish any misfortune on anyone,” Briton Hamilton said. “But we didn’t have any issues.” Unlike the last two races when Hamilton lost ground in the championship. There was a faulty headrest in Azerbaijan that contributed to Hamilton finishing fifth, followed by a five-place grid penalty for an unauthorized gearbox in Austria where he was fourth. Now Hamilton is back on top of the podium, for a record-equaling fifth time at his home race. “Obviously the pendulum has swung this weekend,” Hamilton said. “That is only good for Formula One and good for the fans with the close battle we continue to have.”

He wasn’t on the podium for long. Soon he was among the fans who roared him to glory, vaulting out of the pit lane and crowd-surfing. The celebration carried a pointed message to critics of his failure to attend a showcase of the sport in central London that was attended by the 19 other drivers. Unlike in Trafalgar Square, there certainly weren’t any jeers of Hamilton’s name as he joined Jim Clark and Alain Prost as five-time winners of the race. “There is no reason to question my preparations,” Hamilton said. “There was so much negativity trying to pull the weekend down but obviously it had no effect ... the fans were out-and-out loving and supportive all weekend.” Perhaps recuperating with two-day holidays in Greece is now the blueprint for Hamil-

ton in his quest for a fourth world title. “I don’t understand why the British hero was being beaten up before his home grand prix,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said. “l think that made him even more determined.” There was also an unexpected second-place finish after Bottas made up seven places following a five-place penalty for a gearbox change like Hamilton’s a week earlier. As Bottas surged up the order there was an exhilarating battle with Vettel for third that the Finnish driver won on lap 44 of 51. There was also combative racing early on between Vettel and Max Verstappen as they initially fought for third in a wheel-to-wheel challenge. “He wants to play bumper cars or something,” Verstappen complained over the team radio as Vettel attempted to overtake him on the inside after 14 of 51 laps. Thanks to Vettel’s misfortune, Verstappen was able to finish fourth, having provided much early entertainment, while Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo was fifth. “At the beginning I knew I was quite a bit slower than Seb so I just did my best to stay in front and have some fun,” Verstappen said. “It was the only thing I could do and luckily he didn’t manage to pass me on track. After that little battle my race became a bit lonely.”

Joining the Canadian Women’s Hockey League has stoked Kunlun Red Star’s confidence for realizing its golden dream at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Two weeks after the CWHL announced a five-year deal to include China’s national club teams starting in the 2017-18 season, more details were made public at a July 14 media conference in Beijing. “From the very beginning, our goal has been to win the gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics,” said Zhao Xiaoyu, chairman of Kunlun Red Star. “It is a national duty for us to train the team in a more competitive international environment. We want to build our hockey team into another women’s volleyball team of China, which is considered the role model of sportsmanship in China. “We officially announced two teams will play in the CWHL. They are both national club squads — the Red Team and the Golden Team. Twenty-three national team players are included in the two lineups, along with other top international-caliber players. The two teams are well-matched in strength” Kunlun Red Star will add new players through the draft and free agency, but the rosters are expected to consist of players from China and players from North America who are of Chinese heritage, as well as non-Chinese. Red Star will also be forming youth girls’ teams this year. “We are so excited because

Brenda Andress, commissioner of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, and Kunlun Red Star chairman Zhao Xiaoyu are flanked by players Yu Baiwei (left) and Liu Zhixin at last week’s media conference. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

there is no way to accomplish our goals unless we play in the CWHL,” said Robert Morgan, associate head coach of Kunlun Red Star. “We need to be surrounded by the best. We have to compete against the best of the best to achieve our ultimate dream.” Yu Baiwei, captain of the national team, said: “We are heading to a better future. As players, we have the simplest task, which is to train hard and make us stronger before the next season of CWHL.” Earlier this month the CWHL announced a five-year deal to expand into China next season. Kunlun Red Star’s home games will be played in Shenzhen. Red Star is the sixth club in the CWHL, which also includes four teams in Canada — Calgary Inferno, Toronto Furies, Brampton Thunder and Les Canadiennes Montreal — and the US-based Boston Blades. “We always plan to move forward, “ said league commissioner Brenda Andress.

Five-yearrewardforPalat Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman completed his offseason to-do list by signing “model player” Ondrej Palat to a $26.5 million, five-year deal. The Lightning and Palat avoided arbitration and settled on the contract on Friday, with the Czech left winger counting $5.3 million against the salary cap through 2021-22.

The 26-year-old Palat had 17 goals and 35 assists in 75 games last season. He has 74 goals and 144 assists in 307 NHL games and is considered one of the better defensive wingers in hockey. “His value is probably greater than if you just look at the goals and assists,” Yzerman said. “He’s really a complete

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scoreboard BASEBALL Results from the MLB games on Sunday (home team in CAPS): SAN DIEGO 7 San Francisco 1 OAKLAND 7 Cleveland 3 LA ANGELS 4 Tampa Bay 3 KANSAS CITY 4 Texas 3 HOUSTON 5 Minnesota 3 Philadelphia 5 MILWAUKEE 2 Seattle 7 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 6 (10 innings) ATLANTA 7 Arizona 1 Chicago Cubs 8 BALTIMORE 0 PITTSBURGH 4 St. Louis 3 Colorado 13 NY METS 4 LA Dodgers 3 MIAMI 2 DETROIT 6 Toronto 5 (11 innings) Washington 14 CINCINNATI 4 NY Yankees 3 BOSTON 0, 1st game BOSTON 3 NY Yankees 0, 2nd game

AMERICAN LEAGUE East Division

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36 45 48 49 60

.604 .500 .461 .456 .333

— 9½ 13 13½ 24½

52 46 44 44 39

42 45 47 48 52

.553 .505 .484 .478 .429

— 4½ 6½ 7 11½

NATIONAL LEAGUE East Division Washington Atlanta NY Mets Miami Philadelphia Central Division Milwaukee Chicago Cubs St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati

West Division LA Dodgers Arizona Colorado San Diego San Francisco

64 53 53 40 35

29 39 41 51 58

.688 .576 .564 .440 .376

— 10½ 11½ 23 29

CYCLING Tour de France Results from stage 15 of the Tour de France, a 189.5km run from Laissac to Le Puy-en-Velay, on Sunday: 1. Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 4hrs 41min 47sec 2. Diego Ulissi (ITA/EAU) at 0:19. 3. Tony Gallopin (FRA/LOT) 0:19. 4. Primoz Roglic (SLO/LNL) 0:19. 5. Warren Barguil (FRA/SUN) 0:23. 6. Nicolas Roche (IRL/BMC) 1:00. 7. Lilian Calmejane (FRA/DEN) 1:04. 8. Jan Bakelants (BEL/ALM) 1:04. 9. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 1:04. 10. Serge Pauwels (BEL/DDT) 1:04. 11. Tiesj Benoot (BEL/LOT) 1:04. 12. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) 1:04. 13. Daniel Navarro (ESP/COF) 1:04. 14. Pierre-Luc Pichon (FRA/TFO) 1:12. 15. Ama Moinard (FRA/BMC) 1:12. 16. Michael Matthews (AUS/SUN) 5:04. 17. Maurits Lammertink (NED/KAT) 5:07. 18. Luis Angel Mat (ESP/COF) 5:14. 19. Romain Hardy (FRA/TFO) 5:14. 20. Tony Martin (GER/KAT) 5:14. Overall standings 1. Chris Froome (GBR/Sky) 64hrs 40min 21sec, 2. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) at 0:18. 3. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:23. 4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/CAN) 0:29. 5. Daniel Martin (IRL/QST) 1:12. 6. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 1:17. 7. Simon Yates (GBR/ORI) 2:02. 8. Louis Meintjes (RSA/EAU) 5:09. 9. Alberto Contador (ESP/TRE) 5:37. 10. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) 6:05. 11. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 6:16. 12. George Bennett (NZL/LNL) 6:39. 13. Warren Barguil (FRA/SUN) 8:48. 14. Pierre Latour (FRA/ALM) 13:41. 15. Mikel Nieve (ESP/SKY) 14:52. 16. Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA/ALM) 14:54. 17. Emanuel Buchmann (GER/BOR) 19:37. 18. Carlos Betancur (COL/MOV) 22:17. 19. Brice Feillu (FRA/TFO) 27:08. 20. Guillaume Martin (FRA/AJW) 27:28. Class standings

Points: 1. Marcel Kittel (GER/QST) 373 pts 2. Michael Matthews (AUS/SUN) 294 3. Andre Greipel (GER/LOT) 187 4. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 158 5. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA/BAH) 128 6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/DDT) 115 7. Dylan Groenewegen (NED/LNL) 94 8. Dan Martin (IRL/QST) 89 9. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 86 10. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) 78 King of the mountains (stage) Naves d’Aubrac (cat 1.): 1. Warren Barguil (GER/SUN) 10 pts 2. Serge Pauwels (RSA/DDT) 8 3. Damiano Caruso (USA/BMC) 6 4. Dylan van Baarle (USA/CAN) 4 5. Tsgabu Grmay (BRN/BAH) 2 Col de Peyra Taillade (cat 1): 1. Warren Barguil (GER/SUN) 10 pts 2. Primoz Roglic (NED/LNL) 8 3. Tony Gallopin (BEL/LOT) 6 4. Serge Pauwels (RSA/DDT) 4 5. Damiano Caruso (USA/BMC) 2 King of the mountains (overall): 1. Warren Barguil (FRA/SUN) 116 pts 2. Primoz Roglic (SLO/LNL) 38 3. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/LOT) 36 4. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 33 5. Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA/ALM) 28 6. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 25 7. Dan Martin (IRL/QST) 23 8. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) 22 9. Alberto Contador (ESP/TRE) 22 10. Stephen Cummings (GBR/DDT) 20 Teams (stage): 1. BMC 14hrs 08min 37sec 2. Lotto at 4:18. 3. Sunweb 8:22. 4. AG2R La Mondiale 10:38. 5. Lampre 12:38. Teams (overall) 1. Sky 194hrs 10min 44sec 2. AG2R La Mondiale at 9:52. 3. Trek 1hr 01:18. 4. BMC 1hr 10:50. 5. Movistar 1hr 11:40. 6. Cannondale 1hr 30:21. 7. Astana 1hr 40:24. 8. Orica 1hr 40:50. 9. Fortuneo 1hr 46:54. 10. Lotto 2hrs 01:17. 11. Lotto NL 2hrs 13:42, 12. Lampre 2hrs 27:13, 13. Sunweb 2hrs 30:09, 14. Direct Energie 2hrs 40:50, 15. Accent.jobs 2hrs 43:13, 16. Quick Step 2hrs

“This expansion opens North America and China to new fans. It is important that we continue to expose the game to many different fans, and this will have a significant impact on women’s hockey around the world.” The CWHL’s burgeoning professionalism is another plus. “Before the Chinese team joined, the women were not paid for playing hockey,” said Red Star chairman Zhao. “Now the players are earning salaries, which can offer them more opportunities for future development. This is a historical and revolutionary change for women’s hockey around the world. “We want to cultivate the culture of hockey in China. We’ve seen parents send their young sons to play international hockey, and this has started a wave of patriotism among Chinese around the world. “Now lots of parents want to send their children to play hockey as a way to serve their country.”

52:15, 17. Cofidis 2hrs 52:20, 18. Bora 3hrs 18:21, 19. Katusha 3hrs 46:36, 20. Bahrain 3hrs 53:59, 21. Dimension Data 4hrs 03:07, 22. FDJ 4hrs 14:04. Young riders (stage): 1. Lilian Calmejane (FRA/DEN) 4hrs 42min 51sec 2. Tiesj Benoot (BEL/LOT) at 0:00. 3. Simon Yates (GBR/ORI) 5:21. 4. Louis Meintjes (RSA/EAU) 5:21. 5. Pierre Latour (FRA/ALM) 8:06. Young ridesr (overall): 1. Simon Yates (GBR/ORI) 64hrs 42min 23sec 2. Louis Meintjes (RSA/EAU) at 3:07. 3. Pierre Latour (FRA/ALM) 11:39. 4. Emanuel Buchmann (GER/BOR) 17:35. 5. Guillaume Martin (FRA/AJW) 25:26. 6. Tiesj Benoot (BEL/LOT) 28:08. 7. Lilian Calmejane (FRA/DEN) 53:22. 8. Michael Valgren (DEN/AST) 1hr 37:18. 9. Alberto Bettiol (ITA/CAN) 1hr 42:20. 10. Stefan Kung (SUI/BMC) 1hr 48:09.

MOTOR SPORTS British Formula One Grand Prix Results from the British Grand Prix on Sunday: 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 27.430sec, 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) at 14.063sec, 3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 36.570, 4. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 52.125, 5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 1:05.955, 6. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:08.109, 7. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:33.989, 8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap, 9. Sergio Perez (MEX/ Force India) 1 lap, 10. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap, 11. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap, 12. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) 1 lap, 13. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1 lap, 14. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 1 lap, 15. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 1 lap, 16. Lance Stroll (CAN/ Williams) 1 lap, 17. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap World championship standings Drivers 1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 177 pts, 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 176, 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 154, 4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 117, 5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 98, 6. Max Verstappen (NED) 57, 7. Sergio Perez (MEX) 52, 8. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 43, 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 29, 10. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 26, 11. Felipe Massa (BRA) 23, 12. Lance Stroll (CAN) 18, 13. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 18, 14. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 11, 15. Pascal Wehrlein (GER) 5, 16.

Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 4, 17. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 2 Constructors 1. Mercedes 330 pts, 2. Ferrari 275, 3. Red Bull 174, 4. Force India 95, 5. Williams 41, 6. Toro Rosso 33, 7. Haas 29, 8. Renault 26, 9. Sauber 5, 10. McLaren 2

SOCCER CONCACAF Gold Cup Results from CONCACAF Gold Cup matches in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday: Group C Jamaica 1 (Mattocks 64) El Salvador 1 (Bonilla 15) Mexico 1 (Sepulveda 22, Alvarez 91) Curacao 0

Friendly result Result of exhibition match between Los Angeles Galaxy and Manchester United at StubHub Center here Saturday: Los Angeles Galaxy 2 (Dos Santos 79, 89) Manchester United 5 (Rashford 2, 20, Fellaini 25, Mkhitaryan 67, Martial 72)

player. He plays in all situations for us, and he’s very effective in all situations. Whether we’re on the power play, killing a penalty, 5-on-5, we’re up a goal, down a goal, late in the game if it’s tied — he’s going to be in all those situations, and he plays really hard.” ASSOCIATED PRESS

24 SPORTS

Tuesday, July 18, 2017 CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

TENNIS

Roger is Wimbledon’s gr-eight-est Federer roars into record books by making quick work of hobbled Cilic LONDON — After Roger Federer smashed an ace to close out a Wimbledon final that was more of a coronation than a contest, he sat in his chair and wiped away tears. That’s when it hit him. His wait for record-breaking eighth title was over. Until then, Federer wasn’t focused on the notion of winning the grasscourt tournament more times than any other man in the history of an event first held in 1877. All he’d been concerned with was being healthy enough to compete at a high level and, he hoped, to win a title, regardless of what the total count would be. Capping a marvelous two weeks in which he never dropped a set, Federer won his eighth Wimbledon trophy and 19th Grand Slam championship by taking just 101 minutes to overwhelm Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday. “Wimbledon was always my favorite tournament. Will always be my favorite tournament. “My heroes walked the grounds here and walked the courts here. Because of them, I think I became a better player, too,” added Federer, who turns 36 next month and is the oldest male champion at the All England Club in the Open era, which began in 1968. “To mark history here at Wimbledon really means a lot to me just because of all of that, really,” he said. “It’s that simple.” His first major title came at Wimbledon in 2003, and was followed by others in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2012. But then there were final defeats to Novak Djokovic in 2014 and 2015. He couldn’t be sure another final, let alone title, was possible a year ago, when he lost in the semifinals, then took the rest of 2016 off to let his surgically repaired left knee heal. “It’s been a long road,” he said. Sunday’s outcome was only in doubt for about 20 minutes, the amount of time it took Federer to grab his first lead. Cilic said afterward he developed a painful blister on his left foot during his semifinal on Friday, which affected his ability to move properly or summon the intimidating serves that carried him to his lone Grand Slam title at the 2014 US Open, where he beat Federer in the semifinals. This one was all Federer, who had been tied at seven championships with Pete Sampras and William Renshaw in what’s still officially called gentlemen’s singles. Sampras won all but one of his in the 1990s; Renshaw won each of his in the 1880s, when the previous year’s winner advanced automatically to the final.

With clouds overhead and a bit of chill in the air on Sunday, Federer’s early play was symptomatic of jitters. For everything he’s accomplished, for all of the bright lights and big settings to which he’s become accustomed, the guy many have labeled “GOAT” — greatest of all time — admits to feeling heavy legs and jumbled thoughts to this day. It was Federer, not Cilic, who double-faulted in his first two service games. And it was Federer who faced the initial break point, in the fourth game. But Cilic netted a return, beginning a run of 17 points in a row won by Federer on his serve. He would never be confronted with another break point. “I gave it my best,” Cilic said. “That’s all I could do.” In the next game, Federer broke to lead 3-2. He broke again to take that set when Cilic double-faulted, walked to the changeover and slammed his racket. Cilic sat and covered his head with a white towel. With Federer up 3-0 in the second set, Cilic shed tears while he was visited by a doctor and trainer.

My heroes walked the grounds and walked the courts here. Because of them, I became a better player, too.” Roger Federer, on his special connection with Wimbledon

He said that was not so much a result of his foot’s pain as the idea that he could not play well enough to present a challenge. “Very tough emotionally,” said Cilic, whose foot was re-taped by a trainer after the second set. “I knew that I could not give my best on the court.” It might not have mattered. Federer was, as he’d been all tournament, flawless, the first man in 41 years to win Wimbledon without conceding a set. Against Cilic, he had 23 winners, only eight unforced errors. It capped a remarkable reboot for Federer, who departed Wimbledon a year ago with a lot of doubts. His body was letting him down, he skipped the Rio Olympics, the US Open and everything else in an attempt to try to get healthy. It worked. And how. Feeling refreshed and fully fit, Federer returned to the tour in January and was suddenly playing like the guy of

TheFedfiles

ASSOCIATED PRESS

“It’s disbelief I can achieve such heights. I wasn’t sure I would ever be here in another final after last year.” Roger Federer, after winning his eighth Wimbledon title

Name: Roger Federer World ranking: 3 Date of birth: Aug 8, 1981 Place of birth: Basel, Switzerland Place of residence: Bottmingen, Switzerland Height: 6-foot-1 Turned pro: 1998 Career singles titles: 93 Grand Slam titles: 19 (Australian Open 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017; French Open 2009, Wimbledon 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017; US Open 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) Career prize money: $107,326,692

old, rather than like an old guy. In a turn-back-the-clock moment, he faced rival Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final and, with a fifth-set comeback, won. It was Federer’s 18th Grand Slam title, adding to his own record, and first in nearly five years. Those who had written him off needed to grab their erasers. The formula made sense, clearly, so why not try it again? Federer skipped this year’s clay-court circuit to be in top shape for the grass courts he loves so dearly. Sunday’s victory made Federer 31-2 in 2017, with a tour-leading five titles. “On one side, yes, it surprises me. On the other side, I know he’s able to do so many things, so it’s not surprising to me,” coach Severin Luthi said. “But when it happens, it’s amazing.” Yes, Federer is back to being supreme in tennis, lording over the sport the way no man ever has. And yet, his game has changed. He’s not, of course, the same ponytailed 21-year-old who beat Mark Philippoussis in the 2003 Wimbledon final. Or the teenager who, two years earlier, beat Sampras on Centre Court in the fourth round, their only tour-level meeting. Federer’s hair is cropped, his face clean shaven. He’s a father of four, and both sets of twins — boys, 3, in their light blue blazers; girls, 7, in their dresses — were in the guest box for Sunday’s trophy ceremony. One son stuck a couple of fingers in his mouth until a sister grabbed his hand. “They have no clue what’s going on; they think it’s probably a nice view and a nice playground to come to watch daddy. But one day, hopefully, they’ll understand,” Federer said about his boys. As for the girls, he said: “They enjoy to watch a little bit. They come for the finals.” When daddy is Roger Federer, you can wait until the last Sunday to show up.

whattheysay

“He’s a hero.” Federer, on injured final opponent Marin Cilic

“I never give up in a match. I gave it my best — it’s all I can do.” Cilic, on playing with a blister on his left foot

“The GOAT does it again! x19! And at age 35. He’s my hero and inspiration! So proud of you @rogerfederer!” Lindsey Vonn, American ski star hails the “greatest of all time” on Twitter

“Seeing @rogerfederer lift another grand slam trophy, another Wimbledon trophy.... just gives me goosebumps Congrats Roger!!!” Monica Puig, Puerto Rico’s reigning Olympic women’s tennis champion on Twitter

“Game, set, unmatched.” Sports Illustrated headline

Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates defeating Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to win his record eighth Wimbledon men’s singles title in London on Sunday. TIM IRELAND / AP

Swiss superstar surprised by age-defying achievements Roger Federer said on Sunday he never thought he’d be a record eight-time Wimbledon champion and would even have laughed if he was told he’d win two majors in 2017. It was 16 years ago that Federer defeated Sampras at Wimbledon to announce himself as a star in the making. However, it wasn’t until 2003 that he captured his first All England Club title. Now he has 19 majors, four clear of closest rival Rafael Nadal on the all-time list. “I didn’t think I was going to be this successful after beating Pete here,” said Federer who also won a fifth Australian Open in January. “I hoped to have a chance maybe one day to be in a Wimbledon final and have a chance to win the tournament. “Winning eight is not something you can ever aim for. If you do, you must have so much talent and parents and the coaches that push you from the age of 3 on, who think you’re like a project. I was not that kid.” Federer had been written off as a faded force when he was knocked out of Wimbledon in the semifinals by Canada’s

Roger Federer kisses the Wimbledon trophy on Sunday. ALASTAIR GRANT / AP

Milos Raonic last year. But his Australian Open triumph led to back-to-back Masters at Indian Wells and Miami before he skipped the claycourt season. A ninth Halle grasscourt title followed and on Sunday his record triumph in southwest London took his career trophy collection to a staggering 93. Sunday’s straight-sets cruise against Marin Cilic meant he was the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to win Wimbledon without dropping a set. “I’m incredibly surprised how well this year is going, how well I’m feeling, how I’m managing tougher situations, where my level of play is on a daily basis,” added Federer. “I am surprised that it’s this

good. I knew I could do great again maybe one day, but not at this level. “So I guess you would have laughed, too, if I told you I was going to win two Slams this year. “People wouldn’t believe me if I said that. I also didn’t believe that I was going to win two this year.” The Swiss great also insisted he fully intends to defend his Wimbledon title in 2018. “We never know what happens,” said the Swiss star, who had told the crowd in his victory speech: “I hope to be back, I hope this wasn’t my last match”. He later clarified his remarks, telling reporters: “Honestly, ever since I had the year I had last year, I think a year ahead of time, you know, with my schedule, fitness schedule, tournaments I would like to play. “So I totally see myself playing here this time next year. “There’s never a guarantee, especially not at 35, 36. But the goal is definitely to be here again next year to try to defend.”

“A record 8 Wimbledon championships and a lifetime of being a champion on and off the court and @rogerfederer is the greatest of all time.”

Bille Jean King, on Twitter

“#RO8ER#JustDoIt” Golfer Rory McIlroy, on Twitter

“So special to witness historically moment... @rogerfederer please never stops to play #tennis !! #19 #8th@Wimbledon#RogerFederer for ever.” Marion Bartoli, France’s 2013 women’s Wimbledon champion tweets her congratulations to Federer, albeit in broken English

“19! The king @rogerfederer !!” Stan Wawrinka, Swiss Federer’s compatriot

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Blistering pace leaves Cilic in tears LONDON — In pain and in tears, Marin Cilic never really had a chance. The big-serving Croat played with a blister on his left foot in Sunday’s Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. Cilic looked good for a while, but the injury quickly got worse as Federer got better and won 6-3, 6-1, 6-4. “It was definitely one of the unfortunate days for me,” Cilic said after losing on Centre Court. “Fluid just came down under my callous in the foot. Every time I had to do a reaction fast — fast change of movement — I was unable to do that.” Cilic said he first felt the blister during his four-set victory over Sam Querrey in the semifinals. The 2014 US Open

champion said it wasn’t that bad on Friday, but it got more serious that night. “I felt that the foot wasn’t so good. It wasn’t so bad after the match,” Cilic said. “We tried to take some fluid out overnight, and yesterday in the morning it was worse. The doctors and physios were trying to help as much as they could. They really did the best they could, really helped a lot.” Cilic served to open the match against Federer and both held to 2-2. Federer then broke twice to take the first set, and broke again early in the second to take a 3-0 lead. After that game, Cilic walked back to his chair and broke down, tearing up as he covered his head with his white

towel. “It was a mix of emotions. Obviously a little bit of a frustration that I had that, and also trying to focus on the other side,” Cilic said. “It’s a tough part when you’re in that kind of situation. You know there is not much possibility that you’re going to win. It’s just actually fighting it through.” After the second set, Cilic called for a trainer and had his left foot retaped. Federer knew something was going on with Cilic, but he wasn’t exactly sure what. “Because I didn’t know and I couldn’t tell, I just said; ‘Focus on your game. Focus on your match. Keep playing,’” said Federer, who won his eighth

Wimbledon title and 19th major overall. “The good thing is I was already in the lead.” Cilic came into the match one victory from his second major championship. Despite a 1-6 record in their previous seven matches, Cilic beat Federer in straight sets in the US Open semifinals three years ago on his way to the title. Federer followed that up by defeating Cilic in last year’s Wimbledon quarterfinals, but Federer is 35 and 28-year-old Cilic is one of the biggest hitters in the game. The injury, though, made Sunday’s match a veritable walkover. “The first five, six games was really good tennis, exactly the way we were hoping, the

crowd was hoping, that it was going to be this great battle,” said Jonas Bjorkman, Cilic’s coach. “But unfortunately it was not meant to be. You could see he started not being able to push off as good and then he started giving us a little bit of a signal that it was not 100 percent again, so then we knew that it was a problem.” That problem never went away, but Cilic stayed in the match, trying to hold serve and struggling to even win one point when the ball was in Federer’s hand. “I really wanted to give my best to try as much as I could,” Cilic said. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marin Cilic reacts after losing a point to Roger Federer in Sunday’s Wimbledon final. TIM IRELAND / AP