Social Stability - 127. page

Wang Jingwu, a member of the National People’s Congress and Director of the People’s Bank of China, Guangzhou Branch, commented [during the 2013 National People’s Congress], "Today’s kids all want to be government leaders or officials. Those who want to become a scientist are few and far between." 

Based on the statistics from the China Research Center on Aging, 30 percent of young people in urban China live with their parents; over 65 percent of families have the problem of relying financially on seniors for their living.

Source: Guangming, March 12, 2013
http://politics.gmw.cn/2013-03/12/content_6980725.htm

Wu Bangguo, Chairman and Party Secretary of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, recently spoke at the National People’s Congress. Wu said that the parties from various social groups called for Internet control management and for employing harsh measures against online crimes. Wu stated that the People’s Congress has implemented an Internet user identification system and has played a key role in safeguarding the stability of China.

Internet users had mixed reactions to Wu’s speech. Some favored Wu’s speech while others questioned it. One posting on the Ten Cent micro blog asked, “What does it mean that the central administration will employ Internet management? They will not allow us to speak up.” Another posting asked, “Wu’s statement said that parties from ‘various social groups’ are calling for Internet management. What does ‘various social groups’ refer to?” One posting advised, “We should consider studying the advanced Internet management technology from North Korea.”

Source: BBC Chinese, March 8, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/03/130308_wubangguo_internet.shtml

Xinhua carried an article on the increased tension between doctors and patients. The topic had been brought up during the meeting the delegates from the medical field held at the National People’s Congress. It was reported that one study conducted among 30 hospitals in the eastern part of China suggested that only 10 percent of patients trust their doctors. The statistics released by the Department of Health suggested that, from 2006 to 2010, the number of violent incidents that resulted from medical disputes increased by 70 percent. Among those, 70 percent of the incidents were due to a lack of communication and a heart of caring between doctors and patients.

According to the article, a poor and high risk work environment has caused some doctors and medical school students to give up their medical practice. The investigation suggested that close to 80 percent of the doctors “would discourage their children from going to medical school.” Among the existing medical students in the medical schools in Beijing, only 50 percent are willing to practice clinical medicine.

The article said that in order to reduce the work load in the hospitals in urban regions, the central administration has initiated medical reforms and has invested over 60 trillion yuan (US$9.65 trillion) to support the hospitals and clinics in rural towns and counties. The results were not significant. The delegates called for reform in a number of areas to ease the tension.

Source: Xinhua, March 9, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/health/2013-03/09/c_124436141.htm

Data from the National Population and Family Planning Commission reported that the sex ratio (M/F) at birth in China has remained high for more than 30 years. Since 2009, however, the ratio has seen four consecutive years of decline. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2012, the sex ratio at birth in China fell to 117.7 newborn boys to every 100 baby girls, from a high of 121.20 in 2004. 

A new amendment to Hong Kong’s export and import law took effect on March 1, 2013, which allows persons who are 16 years old or above to carry only two cans, or 1.8 kg, of baby formula with them when they leave Hong Kong. Violators face fines of up to HK$500,000 (US$64,500) and two years in prison. In the past two years, the shortage of baby formula in Hong Kong has been acute because the milk that is widely distributed in Mainland China is often tainted. Mainland Chinese parents no long trust the quality of mainland-produced infant formula, so they come to Hong Kong to purchase baby formula because of its high quality and inexpensive price.

In the past several days, 87 people have been arrested in Hong Kong for violating the new limit on the amount of infant formula that can be taken to the mainland.

Source: Xinhua, March 5, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/gangao/2013-03/05/c_124419631.htm  
http://www.hkcna.hk/content/2013/0305/181785.shtml
http://www.hkcna.hk/content/2013/0304/181666.shtml
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/hk-sets-baby-formula-limits-033002438.html

The China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) recently released its 2012 Social Security Green Book, reporting the results of a survey it had conducted. Close to 80 percent of the households surveyed, who were at the poverty level, did not receive a low income subsidy. The survey was conducted in five provinces. Of the 8,777 surveys returned, 23.5 percent were from households at the poverty level. The results also revealed that over 60 percent of those that received a low income subsidy were not households at the poverty level. However, close to 80% of the households that were in poverty did not receive any low income subsidy.

Source: The Beijing News reprinted by People’s Daily, February 24, 2013
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2013/0224/c70731-20579608.html