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Briefings - 1187. page

Over Twelve Thousand Infants Hospitalized Due to Contaminated Powder Milk

The Ministry of Health estimated that as of September 21, a total of 12,892 infants were hospitalized. 104 of them are in serious condition. Another 39,965 visited clinics. Of all infants receiving treatment, 81.87% are 2 years old or younger%. 17.33% are those between 2 and 3 years old. Those above 3 account for 0.8%. As of September 15, 2008, about 10,000 infants who had been fed contaminated Sanlu powdered milk were examined. 1,253 have been diagnosed with kidney illness. 2 of them have died. 913 were treated as outpatients. 340 remained in the hospital. As the number of victims sharply increases, sources in Hong Kong media indicated that they received instructions from Communist Party Propaganda Department not to report on the incident.

Source:
Xinhua, September 21, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-09/21/content_10088082.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-09/15/content_10010189.htm
Apple Daily, September 24, 2008 http://www1.appledaily.atnext.com/template/apple/art_main.cfm?iss_id=20080924&sec_id=15335&subsec_id=15336&art_id=11638976

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China’s Rebuttal to US 2008 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said that China was strongly disappointed and was against the “2008 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom” published by US State Department on Friday September 19.  She said the report gave groundless criticism to China’s policy on religion and ethnic groups, which is against basic guidelines in handling international relationships. It has also interfered in China’s domestic affairs. “We strongly ask the US to correct its actions of criticizing religious affairs in other countries at its own will and stop publishing the report. "

Source: Xinhua, September 23, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-09/23/content_10098514.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Vice Premier’s Political Guidance to China’s Internet Society

In his greeting letter to the annual conference of Internet Society of China, Zhang Dejiang, the Vice-premier, gave party’s political guidance to the members of the Internet Society. He hope that the internet industry shall “hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics; Strengthening the ideological and moral construction under the guidance of theories by Den Xiaoping and the ‘three representatives’”.

Source: Xinhua, September 23, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/internet/2008-09/23/content_10096848.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Residential Home Purchases in Big Cities Will Hit New Low

The survey taken by the Bank of China suggested that only 13.3 percent of the residents living in the big cities intend to purchase residential homes in the next three months, the lowest since 1999.  The number is down 1.8 points from last quarter and 2.8 points from the year before. The survey also showed that deposit in a bank savings account has become the top selection for surveyed residents in terms of the financial investment in light of the recent stock market crash. The survey indicates 42.8 percent predict that the consumer price will continue to increase.

Source: Xinhua, September 23
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local//2008-09/23/content_10095134.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Top Aviation Exec: Remember the National Humiliation, Develop Domestic Big Airplane

Xinhua posted a news article published by the China Youth Daily on September 22 about China’s ambition to develop big airplanes. The article quoted China Aviation Industry Corporation (CAIC) General Manager Zuo Fengmin’s words as motivation: “When the United States bombed our embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the victims’ bodies were transported back home by a big airplane made in the U.S. It was a huge humiliation for our country’s aviation industry.” The article concluded that if China is to realize industrial advancement and high national stature, improving the aviation industry is a task that must be accomplished; and 2008 is a pivotal year for China’s home-made big airplane to be ready to take off.

Source: Xinhua, September 22, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-09/22/content_10090910.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Deputy County Mayor Position Attracts 65 Ph.D. Applicants

In an open job fair to select the deputy county mayor and public deputy commune director in charge of science and technology in Zhenzhou city of Henan Province, Shan Men Xia Municipality planned to hire a Ph.D. graduate specializing in administration of industrial economy as its deputy county mayor. The advertisement attracted 65 Ph.D. applicants to compete for the position. Such results were beyong expectations. In explaining the phenomenon, one author had commented: “For an ordinary person starting at a lower level, reaching such a position would take years of hard work. Whereas someone with a Ph.D. who jumps to the position, not only realizes the dream of ‘being a government officer,’ but also the dream of ‘making money.’ It is really a good deal.”

Source: Xinhua, September 21, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/comments/2008-09/21/content_10085859.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Beijing Real Estate Market Remains Slow

Beijing’s real estate sales have significantly dropped as housing price continues to soar. Statistics show that sales were down 54 percent in August despite various promotional plans introduced by developers. Buyers are holding off the buying decision hoping prices will drop. Some experts predict that October will bring the volume of sales back up if there is a lucrative discount offered.

Source: China News, September 18, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/estate/gdls/news/2008/09-19/1386889.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Experts Warn Foreign Investments Pulling out of China

As the financial giants Lehman Brothers, AIG, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley have started to sell out their business and real estate investments in China, experts are concerned about its impact on China’s financial order. The latest statistics released by China Bank suggest that China’s funds outstanding for foreign exchange were down 50 percent in August compared with the first seven months of 2008, which is an obvious indication that foreign investments have started to back out of China. The experts warned that the real estate downturn and the large swing on the stock market have pushed the yuan to go up. If foreign investors and companies started to cash out their investments, it will have immeasurable impact on China’s financial order.

Source: Wenweipo, September 21,2008
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2008/09/21/CH0809210001.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources