Social Stability - 149. page

According to an article published on Southern Metropolis Daily (www.nfdaily.com) on August 31, 2010, “The Chinese people do not really own the property they purchase; the biggest owner is the government.”

“Since the nineties of the last century, the Chinese people have been purchasing their own property. As housing prices have risen, private real estate has become the largest asset for many ordinary families, but the concept of real estate in China is different from the concept in international society. Theoretically, all the land for urban residential properties belongs to the country. Although the law allows a homeowner to enjoy the property (he purchaed) for 70 years, … the biggest property owner is the government. It can take back residential land at any time in the name of ‘public interest’ and let the home owner’s wealth, which accumulated for years, go with the wind.”

The article gave two examples of forced evictions in China.

Source: Southern Metropolis Daily, August 31, 2010
http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/201008/news-gb2312-1154785.html

The Party Organization Department within the Ministry of Justice organized a 10-day training session, which was attended by 2,799 Directors of the Judicial Bureaus at the city and county levofel. The training encompassed eight sessions and lasted one year.

The main areas of the discussions were carrying out the “three-key-works,” covering the reduction social conflicts, renovating social management, practicing clean government and enforcing social justice. It also included topics on maintaining social harmony, stability, and promoting economic development. Over a dozen experts and professors from the Central Party School conducted forums on strengthening party development at the grass roots level, various measures in handling sudden incidents, and guiding public opinion.

Source: Legal Daily, August 23, 2010
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/China_legalaid/content/2010-08/23/content_2254379.htm

The Chinese Ministry of Public Safety recently held a conference in the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa. The conference covered the Grand Tibetan Region which goes across four other provinces (Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan). The conference believed that, although the overall situation is relatively quiet, the task of maintaining social stability in Tibet is still a huge challenge. The key strategy guiding the near term work is to proactively engage. Actual planned steps include: (1) enhance the “prevention and control system”; (2) enhance border checks; (3) improve emergency handling capabilities; (4) significantly improve education and “mental development”; (5) increase investment in equipment and technology. The conference called for stronger support from other provinces.

Source: China Review News, August 20, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/2/0/2/101420233.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=101420233&mdate=0820090253

China Review News (CRN) recently reported on a social research study of young people’s views regarding traditional Chinese etiquette. The research showed that 85.9% of the young population believes traditional etiquette is “important,” but only 55.1% believes they have some understanding of etiquette. Three classes of people are believed to be the worst in following traditional etiquette: “young people,” “eastern people,” and “city residents.” The top two reasons for the decline of etiquette are that the “size of a modern family is too small,” and “lack of the opportunity to learn.” The report mentioned that experts believe the fading of traditional Chinese etiquette is caused by the emphasis, over the past centruy, on delinking society and tradition.

Source: China Review News, August 19, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/1/9/4/101419430.html?coluid=6&kindid=29&docid=101419430&mdate=0819104648

On August 18 and 19, senior officials of the Ministry of Public Security met in Lhasa, Tibet. The meeting believes that “there are still a lot of factors affecting stability of the Tibetan area, and the struggle against separatism and safeguarding stability remains an arduous challenge.” Managing Deputy Minister Yang Huanning gave a speech and Deputy Minister Chen Zhimin delivered a report.

Source: Xinhua, August 19, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-08/19/c_12464529.htm

China Review News recently reviewed an article by China Youth Daily on the recently published number of the percentage of the Beijing population that is middle class. It was reported that 40% of the population, which equals 5.4 million, are considered “middle class.” This percentage is above the national average – 23%. However the article questions the accuracy of the numbers and suggests that the largest majority is at the bottom of the “middle class” range. The article also refers to other statistics to prove that the 40% is hard to justify. Also, the new 40% number is based on registered households. A large number of people who live in Beijing are not registered. The article concluded that the latest optimistic number is just a “fairy tale.”

Source: China Review News, August 2, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/0/1/0/101401061.html?coluid=5&kindid=24&docid=101401061&mdate=0802224246

According to the PRC (People’s Republic of China) Ministry of Public Security on July 16, 2010, Wang Lequan, member of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) Central Committee of the Politburo, deputy chair of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee, and deputy director of the Social Order Comprehensive Management Committee, was in Tianjin from July 14 to 15 promoting innovation in social management.

Wang emphasized that “we must guide, serve and manage all the newly established economic and social organizations, so as to ensure their development in a healthy direction. Pay immediate attention to early signs of unrest. To the greatest extent possible, resolve disputes at the grassroots level and at the initial stage. … Make an effort to keep small disputes within a street and big disputes within a district. …”

Source: The PRC Ministry of Public Security, July 16, 2010
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803680/2465198.html

On July 14, 2010, www.people.com.cn reported that “Guangdong Province’s Crisis Response Regulations” have been implemented since July 1.  Guangdong Province has hired 25,000 grass-roots informants including journalists, to collect information abouot urgent incidents. Once there is a sudden occurrence, lower level officials must report it to the next level government, and city level officials must report it to the provincial government within 2 hours. Sensitive information can be reported to the higher government directly. Those who fail to report an emergent incident will be penalized.

Guangdong Provincial Government, its relevant departments and all municipal governments above the district level have now set up spokesperson systems. “In case of an emergency, the news spokespersons must make an announcement within 4 hours,” said Li Shoujin, Deputy Minister of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department and director of the Provincial News Office.

Source: www.people.com.cn, July 14, 2010
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/14562/12148972.html