20140523 The Standard_Leung Q&A session abandoned amid chaos

For the first time, a question-and-answer session with the chief executive had to be aborted after chaos broke out in the Legislative Council chamber.

Several lawmakers threw objects at officials, one slung a bun at Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, and another refused to be removed when ordered by Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing.

Leung later described those involved as uncivilized. "Lawmakers throwing objects at officials are ruining the relationship between the administrative and legislative branches of government," Leung said after the meeting.

"If this behavior continues, it will also damage Hong Kong's international image and the dignity of the Legislative Council."

Executive Council convener Lam Woon-kwong said the relationship between the government and the legislature has reached a tipping point.

In his opening speech at the session, Leung condemned the lawmakers responsible for the budget and other filibusters.

"Filibusters have severely affected Hong Kong's competitiveness. I detest them bitterly," Leung said.

Lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung passed a slip to People Power lawmakers Albert Chan Wai-yip and Ray Chan Chi-chuen.

Minutes later, when Leung was still speaking about the filibuster, Albert Chan threw a bun at the chief executive while Ray Chan and Leung Kwok- hung stood up.

"It's you who Hongkongers bitterly detest," Chan yelled.

The Legco president immediately expelled the trio but Leung Kwok-hung refused to leave. He was held down by seve

ral security guards.

Tsang adjourned the meeting, and about 10 minutes later it resumed. Then Labour Party lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan challenged Tsang's expulsion order, saying Leung Kwok-hung had not done anything but was only standing up after Tsang called his name.

Tsang said that given the situation, he was terminating the meeting. It ended five minutes earlier than it was supposed to.

Pro-establishment lawmakers condemned the lawmakers for acting in a disorderly manner.

Lawmaker Ma Fung Kwok of the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication sector, said he overheard Leung telling Chan to "take action" against the chief executive.

"I believe the lawmakers planned the action as all three began soon after Leung Kwok-hung gave the signal," Ma said.

Leung Kwok-hung conceded he had intended to throw buns. "I intended to throw the buns out, but the security guards surrounded me before I did anything," he said.

Lawmaker Raymond Wong Yuk-man had already been thrown out for calling on the chief executive to step down.

After the meeting, Tsang said he judged that Leung Kwok-hung had behaved in a disorderly manner because he saw security guards trying to hold him back after he stood up and held the props.

He said he was disappointed that a dozen lawmakers had missed the opportunity to question Leung, adding he would ask Legco's committee on rules of procedure to review existing regulations.

20140523 The Standard_Legco boils like a pressure cooker

Is the chief executive's question-and- answer session in the Legislative Council such a big deal?
It wasn't really before yesterday. Having heard Leung Chun-ying speak in Legco so many times, skeptics did not expect him to reveal much at the latest meeting. At most, it would be just another routine event.
But they were proved seriously wrong. Instead, the Q&A session turned out to be a historic one. For the first time, the chief executive had his meeting with lawmakers cut short.
If Jasper Tsang Yok-sing has made history in being the first legislative president to "scissor" the CE-lawmakers meeting, Leung has made history by being the first CE to have his time shortened.
Any material impact would be limited since the meeting was already about to end. Tsang stopped the session with only five minutes remaining.
As if on cue, Leung immediately began to read out a prepared statement of condemnation while League of Social Democrats lawmaker Leung Kwok- hung shouted from behind. What can one make of all these occurrences?
Executive Council convener Lam Woon-kwong was correct in saying the relations between the executive and legislature have reached a tipping point and can be stretched no more.
Everybody it seems was under pressure in this political pressure cooker. Not only was Tsang, who is under pressure from even his own pro-Beijing ranks, the government and pan- democrats were equally under pressure of their own.
That's why Leung Chun-ying started attacking the filibusters and Occupy Central as soon as he spoke in the legislative assembly. The pan- democrats must have also been aware that both the filibusters and proponents of Occupy Central have little support in society.
Even before the session began, all were prepared for a show and had their own scripts at the ready.
First, Leung Chun-ying used the event to strike back at opponents, deliberately escalating Occupy Central to "Paralyze Central," and declaring that the police would not issue a no- objection letter to activists.
He even went further to say companies situated in the Central district will sue the activists for any losses due to their occupation action.
The trio of filibustering lawmakers - Leung Kwok-hung and People Power lawmakers Albert Chan Wai-yip and Ray Chan Chi-chuen - had also prepared their own scripts, waiting until the second half of the meeting to spring into action. Coordinated by Leung Kwok- hung, a bun was thrown in the direction of the CE.
Even the Legco president had his own thoughts. He must have waited for the theatrics to take place, first ordering lawmaker "Mad Dog" Raymond Wong Yuk-man to leave soon after the meeting started and then expelling the trio. This was all expected.
Perhaps the thing that surprised him was that if Leung Kwok-hung had left, like he has every time in the past, he didn't this time around.
Also, perhaps, not on his script was the defiant challenge of his ruling by Labour Party lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau- lan.
What happened next must have taken everyone by surprise. Tsang played outside the script by cutting the meeting short.



If the meeting was conducted mostly according to each one's own agenda, the final part wasn't. That's politics. In reality, things do not necessarily go to plan. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been so many problems.

20140519 China Daily_300 firms leaving Beijing to reduce smog in capital

Beijing will move 300 heavy polluters out of the capital before October to reduce smog and speed up industrial reform, according to authorities.

The companies, which have high water and energy consumption, include construction material and furniture manufacturers.

"These factories and companies will be relocated in nearby cities or regions after technology upgrading and product restructuring," said Zhang Boxu, director of the Beijing Commission of Economy and Information Technology.

Zhang was speaking at a recent conference in Beijing.

Several nearby areas, including Hebei province, Tianjin and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, were holding discussions on accepting some of the companies, he added.

Beijing authorities say 288 enterprises were moved out of the capital in 2013, which help the city to cut sulfur dioxide emissions by 7,000 tons.

Despite significant efforts in fighting pollution, the report from the municipal environmental protection bureau said the capital's air quality in 2013 did not improve.

The average index for PM2.5, particles smaller than 2.5 microns that can penetrate the lungs, reached nearly 90 micrograms per cubic meter last year, exceeding the national standard for good air by 156 percent.

Beijing authorities are also drawing up guidelines to encourage polluting enterprises to move out and are cracking down on illegal plants that cause pollution.

Beijing Lingyun Construction Materials and Chemical Co, a State-owned pharmaceutical company, has moved from the capital's Fengtai district to Handan, a city in Hebei province.

Handan Mayor Hui Jian told local media the new production base, with environmentally friendly facilities and technology, would help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 400,000 tons, sulfur dioxide emissions by 9,000 tons and dust by 10,000 tons annually in Beijing.

Hebei was home to as many as seven of China's top 10 polluted cities last year, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Yang Fuqiang, a senior adviser at the National Resources Defense Council, said Beijing's plants should be moved to western or central areas to enable fast economic development.

20140502 Standard_Toilet campaign makes a splash

Hong Kong has survived the first day of a promised stink-in by netizens without reports of mainlanders relieving themselves in the streets.

Nevertheless, some locals were taking no chances with several dozens patrolling Mong Kok streets carrying placards warning mainlanders not to pee or poo in public.

One of the street guardians, Leung Kam-shing, said he will first advise mainlanders about their habits and only take photos if they ignore him.

The group, which also has a Facebook page, earlier announced it will accept photos for a competition on May 12.

One of the placards showed a stop signal over a person urinating in public. It warned that such behavior merits a fine of at least HK$2,000.

Another netizen, surnamed Wan, said Hong Kong has no right of portrait, so taking photos of such an activity is not a worry.Leung said he would ask police to take action and file a complaint if they did not.

One resident, surnamed Ho, said he will stop whoever urinates in public and that taking pictures is one way of preventing such behavior.

A tourist, surnamed Wang, agreed that some mainlanders do need to behave but accused some Hongkongers of being prejudiced against them.

She said the civilized way is to show tourists the location of toilets instead of taking photos.

A tourist from Guangdong, surnamed Zhang, said visitors should obey local laws. "We don't have toilets everywhere in the mainland ... so some people turn to the nearest bush or lamppost."

Another visitor said it is uncomfortable to know that locals will take photos of mainlanders urinating in public. "We are all Chinese. Is this really necessary?"

Meanwhile, a Sina Weibo user has written a toilets guide to Mong Kok for mainlanders.

He said the best places are McDonald's outlets, malls and hotels.

20140504 China Daily_Premier Li leaves for Africa tour (2)

Premier Li's trip to further cement China-Africa ties

Updated: 2014-05-01 10:39

By Zhao Yinan (China Daily)

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China is due to sign agreements with African nations on petroleum, agriculture and infrastructure during Premier Li Keqiang's maiden visit to Africa since taking office.

Vice-Minister of Commerce Zhang Xiangchen said China will sign about 60 agreements with governments during Li's tour, which will take him to Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola and Kenya.

Special: China-Africa relations

Zhang did not reveal the total value of the agreements, but said they would lay a sound basis for future China-Africa relations

Li will arrive in Ethiopia on May 4 on the first leg of his eight-day tour, before traveling to Nigeria, Angola and Kenya on his first overseas trip this year.

In Ethiopia, Li will also visit the African Union commission and meet its chairwoman, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. In Nigeria, Li will attend the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa.

Soon after taking office last year, President Xi Jinping chose Africa as the destination for his first trip as head of state.

Experts said the two visits in consecutive years underscore the eagerness of China and Africa to strengthen their ties, and the tour would draw China and Africa closer together and produce more economic opportunities for both sides.

China has been Africa's largest trade partner since 2009. The number of Chinese companies investing in the continent has reached 2,500. Trade and economic cooperation will be a major feature of Li's tour, although China-Africa ties reach far beyond economic cooperation, Zhang said.

He said Africa is becoming increasingly attractive to investors thanks to the continent's more stable political situation, rich natural resources and demographic dividends.

Guo Xiangang, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the tour sends a message to the world that China and Africa are in "a community of shared destinies".

African economies are performing strongly, and the continent's trade with China is worth around $200 billion annually, Guo said.

The choice of Africa as Li's first overseas destination this year shows that China cherishes its friendship with Africa, he said.

When Xi visited Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of Congo in March last year, he referred to "sincerity", "real results", "affinity" and "good faith" when talking about China's Africa policy.

Guo said agreements, particularly relating to trans-regional infrastructure projects involving Chinese technology and construction teams, are likely to be reached during Li's trip.

A joint working group on transnational infrastructure construction cooperation was set up in April in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

At its first meeting, Zhang from the Ministry of Commerce said poor infrastructure has become an obstacle to Africa's development, while China has great experience in the construction of transportation, energy and telecommunication infrastructure.

"China has the experience and capabilities to contribute to Africa's development," he said.

Guo from the China Institute of International Studies said when China proposes an infrastructure project to promote regional connectivity, it usually comes with a range of support measures, such as preferential loans and help with maintenance and training in order to make the projects more feasible.

zhaoyinan@chinadaily.com.cn

20140504 China Daily_Premier Li leaves for Africa tour (1)

Premier Li leaves for Africa tour

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday morning left Beijing for visits to Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola and Kenya.

This is the first time for the premier to visit Africa since taking office in 2013. His entourage includes his wife Cheng Hong.

Li was invited by Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn, President of Nigeria Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of Angola Jose Eduardo dos Santos and President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta.

During his stay in Ethiopia, Li will also visit the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa at the invitation of AU rotating Chairperson Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, also president of Mauritania, and Chairperson of the AU Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

While visiting Nigeria, the premier will also attend the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa to be held in Abuja, capital of Nigeria.

20140504 BBC_Afghanistan landslide: Day of mourning declared

David Loyn describes "tragic scenes" from an Afghan hillside, as landslide survivors fight over bread

Badakhshan provincial governor Shah Waliullah Adib told the BBC there was now no hope for more than 2,000 people believed buried in their homes.

Officials formally ended the search for survivors on Saturday.

Mechanical diggers had left Ab Barik village without being used because the site was inaccessible.

The BBC's David Loyn says it is unlikely that there will be any serious effort made to recover the bodies.

Metres of mud

At least 2,000 people were in their homes when a mountain collapsed and covered the area in mud and rocks.

A further 600 people are also missing after rushing to help with the rescue effort and being caught in a second landslide.

Locals who rushed to help with the rescue efforts were caught by a second landslide in the area

Hundreds of people have been left homeless after the landslide

The affected area is in one of Afghanistan's poorest regions

Rudimentary efforts by locals to dig into the soft mud with shovels were quickly abandoned.

A few hundred survivors have spent a second night out in the open, although blankets, tents and basic food aid have now arrived.

Correspondents say they have demanded that government officials resettle them elsewhere because they do not want to return to the village where so many lie buried.

"We cannot continue the search and rescue operation any more, as the houses are under metres of mud," Mr Adib said.

"We will offer prayers for the victims and make the area a mass grave."

'Absolutely devastating'

Heavy rain is believed to have triggered the two landslides, which hit on Friday morning.

Friday is a day of rest in Afghanistan, meaning whole families would have been at home at the time.

"The scale of this landslide is absolutely devastating, with an entire village practically wiped away," said Richard Danziger, from the International Organization for Migration, which is providing aid to the village.

"Hundreds of families have lost everything and are in immense need of assistance."

One survivor, Zia ul-Haq, told reporters: "My family, including my child and all my belongings are buried here."

Mountainous Badakhshan, which borders Tajikistan, China and Pakistan, is one of the poorest regions in Afghanistan.