Social Stability - 181. page

China imposed tighter control on purchasing Olympic Games tickets, especially for the opening and closing ceremonies. An official document of Beijing’s local authorities gave orders to effectively monitor "enemies" during the Olympics. The list includes international terrorists, ethnic or sectarian separatists, opponents with hostile attitude, hardliner Falun Gong practitioners, criminal offenders, people who are seriously dissatisfied with the society and petitioners who came to Beijing to appeal their cases.

Source: Voice of America, February 20, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2008-02-20-voa35.cfm

“Holidays in China have turned into food festivals. The cultural aspect of it is missing,” Huo Shangde, Chairman of the Society for the Study of Folk Literature and Art wrote in an article published by the People’s Daily on February 14.  Huo is calling the nation to be relieved from the “food festival” and revive the vibrant cultural contents.

Huo describes China as the nation that emphasizes loyalty, respect, kindness, and love. "The traditions of the holidays imply the deep rooted cultural of harmony of heaven and mankind," he said, "without it, Chinese civilization will lose its glory."

It was reported that during the week of the Chinese New Year celebration this year, the restaurant industry in Shanghai produced 96.8 million yuan (US$ 13.4 million) in revenue, 16.7 percent increase from last year. The average banquet in Shanghai costs 1,699 yuan (US$236) per table.

Source:
China News, February 14, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/cul/news/2008/02-14/1162189.shtml
Xinhua, February 14, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-02/13/content_7598302.htm

Since last year, consumer price has been going up continuously. In particular, the food price has increased markedly. The biggest snow storm in 70 years hit Hunan Province pretty hard, significantly affecting the lives of school teachers and students. To ensure stability, the Education Department of Hunan Province issued a notice, strictly controlling the fee for school education, and keeping price of food in school cafeteria from going up.

Source：China News Agency, February 11, 2008
http://edu.chinanews.cn/edu/zcdt/news/2008/02-11/1160015.shtml

On February 5, Hangzhou-based writer Lü Gengsong was sentenced to four years for "inciting subversion of state power" based on 19 articles that he posted online. His political rights will subsequently be deprived for one year. Lü’s hearing lasted for 15 minutes and only his immediate family and two friends were allowed to attend. Outside the courthouse, more than 20 people came to voice their support, one was detained. According to Radio Free Asia, his wife said that he plans to appeal.

Source: Radio Free Asia, February 05, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/05/lugengsong/

Because of heavy storms hitting the south and northwest regions of China since mid-January, millions of migrant workers have been stranded and unable to go home for Chinese New Year. In Guangzhou alone, 1.1 million out of 3.8 million sold train tickets were returned due to cancellations. The local labor security agency in Guangdong Province has issued an urgent notice to various levels of authorities asking that they persuade those who are stuck on the road to return to Guangdong. They are hoping to keep 65 percent of the migrant workers for the New Year.

Source: Xinhua, February 5, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-02/05/content_7575411.htm

Radio Free Asia reports on February 4 that a female handicapped petitioner from Northeast China was beaten to death in front of the reception office of the Supreme Court in Beijing on Monday afternoon.

Source: Radio Free Asia, February 4, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/04/fangmin/

Wu Heping, the spokesman from the Ministry of Public Security, told reporters that there were 84,000 economic crimes out of 4.75 million criminal cases in 2007, an increase of 4.2% from last year. This is the fourth year in a row during which China had seen a marked increase in economic crimes.

Among the economic offenses, violations of company regulations and financial misconduct led the increase, rising 15% and 14% respectively.

Source: Chinanews.com, January 30, 2008
http://news.sohu.com/20080130/n254969860.shtml

Legal Daily reported that new measures on security for large social activities in Beijing will take effect on March 1, 2008. An official from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau stated that professional firms will be set up to monitor and grant permission for large scale social activities in Beijing.

More than 10,000 policemen, security guards and volunteers will take part in security checking on more than 200 hotels and other public places during the 2008 Olympics.

Source: Legal Daily, January 31, 2008
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0705/2008-01/31/content792072.htm