1. Shanghai Morning Post: I have three questions. The first is about the maglev line to run between Shanghai and Hangzhou. The project has just been approved. I am wondering if the basic route has been decided upon. There were rumors that the line would have stops at Hongqiao and Shanghai South Railway Station. Is this correct? How much will the project cost? Will the investment be open to private capital? The second is about the location of Disneyland. Chuansha in Pudong has been mentioned the most, but Lingang New City in Nanhui District is also mentioned now. The developers also said it is in their plan. I want to know if it has been determined. My final question is about Shanghai’s water quality, which is said to be not good. Could you please elaborate on this issue?

Jiao Yang: As far as the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev link is concerned, everybody has noticed that the State Council approved the proposed project. This set in motion the study of the project’s feasibility.

The construction of the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev will make communication between Shanghai and neighboring cities like that within one city, forming a half-hour transport circle and increasing transport efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta. It will propel the joint economic and social development of the region.

Everybody has also heard the Mayor’s response to reporters about  Disneyland during the sessions of the CPPCC and NPC, in that Shanghai has the right conditions and hopes to introduce a Disneyland. The city has made some preliminary preparations, but awaits the approval of the State Council.

The concern about Shanghai’s water quality was also raised by a reporter at the Premier’s press conference yesterday. So let me discuss the issue with you here. The health and safety of Shanghai’s drinking water has long had the municipal government’s highest attention. To improve the quality of the city’s water sources, the Shanghai government invested more than 5 billion yuan in the 1980s and 90s to make Huangpu River and Yangtze River the city’s two major water sources. Meanwhile, the city was also stepping up efforts to build and renovate water plants, enhance water processing technology and capacity.

Shanghai’s drinking water has matched national standards for many years. According to authorities’ examination in 2005, the water supply downtown saw a 99.95-percent qualification ratio in terms of four major requirements – residual chlorine, turbidity, bacteria and coli. The overall qualification ratio in relation to 35 requirements reached 99.92 percent. Therefore, I can say with assurance that Shanghai’s water supply meets all standards. It is safe.

I can also provide some information about Shanghai’s water environment management. In the just-past second round of the three-year environmental protection plan, Shanghai built 920-kilometers of new sewage collection pipelines, adding new sewage-handling capacity of 3.49 million cubic meters a day. The city also finished renovating 201 waterways in downtown, improving water quality by 21.5 percent and removing the stench and eyesore associated with riverways in downtown. According to the 11th Five-Year Plan and the third-round three-year environmental protection plan, Shanghai will further increase efforts to better the water environment and improve water quality as a way to satisfy people’s increasing demand for a higher quality of life. Thank you.

2. Eastday.com: How will the newly-issued guideline promote the building of a harmonious society? Shanghai will hold a series of sports events, and what’s the intended benefit?

Jiao Yang: The major reason for issuing the guideline on the planning and management of public service facilities in communities is that a community is one cell of a society and also the home of everybody. As our home, we hope to have a safe, convenient, multi-functional, beautiful and well-managed community. So the guideline has significance in scientific development, social management, public management and services of a city. Community construction and a reasonable configuration of community facilities aim to create a conducive environment for people’s life and work. While drafting the guideline, authorities conducted a lot of surveys and research, looking to propel community construction through scientific planning, standardized management and effective security systems. The short and medium-term measures will ensure community construction is well-planned, that facilities are actualized and that residents can share the benefit.

As for the motivation behind holding big sports events, there have been enough reports in recent years. A series of significant sporting events held in Shanghai will not only raise the city’s athletic-level and ability to organize such specialist events, but also boost the development of Shanghai’s modern service industry. It will help raise Shanghai’s competitive edge internationally and enhance the civil society. It will also popularize participation in sports.

These big sports events embody Shanghai’s vitality and attraction, the increased competitive edge since the reform and opening policy, and the enhanced ability to stage important events. It also brought to people in Shanghai the opportunity to appreciate exciting games, enriching their cultural lives. Many foreign tourists as well as domestic and foreign reporters came to the city to watch them. The A1 Chinese Grand Prix around the end of March and the World Swimming Championships at the beginning of April are expected to draw thousands of Chinese and foreign reporters to report on and live-telecast the games. This will help the world learn of today’s China and Shanghai. Thus the significance of a series of big international sports events is self-evident.

3. NHK Shanghai Station: To come back to Disneyland, one question is who is proposing to build a Disneyland in Shanghai, the city government or the Disney company? And what’s the presumed advantage? For example, can we suppose that Disneyland will bring Shanghai yet more visitors after the World Expo? Another question is when will the Disneyland be completed?

Jiao Yang: We have mentioned that Shanghai has applied to the central government to develop a Disneyland. The building of a theme park, as with the efforts to build cultural and sports facilities in recent years, aims to satisfy the Shanghai and Chinese people’s demand for culture and sport. Shanghai aims to “serve” in three ways– serve the country, serve the Yangtze River Delta and serve the area along the Yangtze River. It is the inspiration behind Shanghai’s boosting of efforts to build cultural and sports facilities. While satisfying people’s spiritual and cultural demands, it also embodies a city’s surging vitality.

4. News Times: It’s the first time for China to participate in the Grand Prix of Nations. Please provide an introduction to the A1 Grand Prix and Chinese drivers. The Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev line has been approved by the State Council. It is rumored that the project has two potential schemes under consideration. As the route and location of stations are of great interest to citizens, can you provide some details?

Jiao Yang: A1 is a new concept. China is participating in the race for the first time, but it’s also the first season of A1 worldwide. So it’s no surprise if reporters have limited knowledge about the race. As I understand it, A1 is a breakthrough for auto-racing. Approved by the FIA, the race lets countries compete equally for the first time in racing history. Athletes drive formula racing cars of the same model. Every A1 car uses the same engine. From September to April every year, A1 will take place on the top-grade circuits of at least 11 countries.

Every team is representing its country in participating in the race. Drivers and sponsors should come from the same country as the team. The racing contains a strong concept of nationality, so it is dubbed “the World Cup of racing.” In 2005, the first year of A1 Grand Prix, 25 countries participated, including both developed and developing countries. They are China, the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, India, Japan, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Lebanon, Pakistan and South Africa, representing more than 80 percent of the world’s population.

The A1 Grand Prix to be held at the Shanghai International Circuit from March 31 to April 2 is the last leg of this season. It is also considered “the China final.” The international auto racing community and the fans all over the world will pay close attention to the first A1 final in China.

Approved by the General Administration of Sport, the A1 China team was jointly-established by the Federation of Automobile Sports of China and Haiyi Auto Racing Management (Beijing) Co. It is the first national team in China’s auto racing history. A1 requires all countries’ racing cars to be equipped with a 520 horsepower and 3.4 liter V8 engine. Each country can set up only one team. The driver must be native, and sponsors also must come from the same country. Last May, the Zhuhai International Circuit held the driver selection race for the national team. Jiang Tengyi and Ma Qinghua, both from Shanghai, outperformed other drivers after examination of their driving, language skills and technical knowledge. They are the two drivers representing China in the A1 Grand Prix of 2005 season. Jiang and Ma showed strong confidence and finished in fifth place at the Dubai Grand Prix, scoring the first points for China.

As for the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev link, the state has endorsed the project. At present, the feasibility studies are ongoing. We will choose an appropriate time to disclose more information.

5. Shanghai Daily: I want to ask two questions about the safety of drinking water. As mentioned just now, more than 99 percent of Shanghai’s drinking water meets health standards. I want to ask if the figure you refer to is for water leaving purification plants or for water as it reaches residents’ homes? The second question: water experts say that old water pipes and the poor sanitary conditions of people’s water tanks are the main reasons for water impurity. You also said Shanghai will continue to improve water quality. So what new measures will you take to solve the two problems? Thank you.

Jiao Yang: The problem of aging water pipes does exist. Some citizens, including reporters, find that the tap water in some buildings turns yellow. This is likely due to rusty pipes or the poor quality of pipes. Besides, people also come across such a situation in their homes. After cleaning the water tank, the water will be turbid or yellow for a while when you open the tap. These are occasional and exceptional situations. It will not impact on the water being safe to drink, and the problem can be resolved. The Shanghai authorities have attached much importance to the replacement of old water pipes. In recent years, the city has been replacing and repairing the pipeline network, while renovating old communities and transforming flat roofs into angled ones. As for the figure you referred to, we can confirm with the experts whether it refers to the water coming out of purification plants or the water reaching customers. Thank you for reminding us to be attentive to such details.

6. SMG: Is there a detailed timetable for the construction of public facilities?

Jiao Yang: Maybe the reporter hasn’t read the guideline. It gives a detailed timetable for the construction of public service facilities. The short and medium-term plan therein says the city should ensure community construction is well-planned, that facilities become operational and that residents can share the benefits by 2010, creating new and harmonious communities. There is also much concrete work to do. For example, the city will set aside 100,000 beds for the elderly by 2010, and build 300 public playgrounds in communities, ensuring people have a place to exercise within 500 meters of their homes. If reporters need more details, officials of the planning department are also here. You can talk to them after the conference, or look-up the actual terms of the guideline on the government Website.

7. China Daily: I want to ask a detailed question. In the contents you announced just now, the third paragraph on the second page is clause IV, which says: “In a commercial project, the rent for the additional land used to build public service facilities can be returned to the builder.” In Hong Kong, if a developer builds an overpass to connect transport facilities while engaged in a development, the government will give the developer part of the land for free. I want to ask you how will Shanghai approach this? Thanks.

Jiao Yang: The reporter raised a policy question. I will not comment on the practice in other regions, because I don’t know their situations well enough. I will repeat the incentives laid-out in our guideline. There are three aspects to this. One is land use priorities. The downtown area has a shortage of available land. If the provision of community public service facilities fails to meet 50 percent of the set standard, the land reserved or open for development will be used to build public service facilities as a first priority. The second is the planning management department’s reward policy for those who contribute part of a site for the building of public services. The third policy is to utilise the sites of canceled illegal construction projects for community projects. According to the 68th clause of the Shanghai city planning regulations, public services have first-call on confiscated illegal construction sites.

To elaborate further, the guideline encourages developers to build community public service facilities as part of their projects in either downtown or the suburbs. The planning management department will give some reward to those who allocate land for the building of public services. The reward mentioned in the guideline only applies to the old communities in downtown and the suburbs as well as other regions which have difficulty in finding sites for public service. New residential complexes will conform to the standards for public service facility provision, so they will not be faced with this issue. Relative to the original site area, developers can add at most 200 square meters, of which at least 50 percent should be used for public services.

8. South China Morning Post: Could you please give an idea how many international sports events took place in Shanghai last year and this? You said holding international sports events helps boost the development of Shanghai’s modern service sector and contributes to civil society. Are there any concrete examples? Are there statistics to show the contribution to the service industry?

Jiao Yang: We have already discussed last year’s sport events. The reporter can find the data on the Internet. I also mentioned this year’s data just now. The reporter asked about international sports events. There are international events and regional ones. This year, Shanghai will host 82 tournaments involving 37 sports, including 36 international tournaments ( 21 sports) and 46 national ones (26 sports), such as the Chinese Super League, the CBA basketball league and national volleyball games. The sports bureau officials are here now. Reporters can consult them about the arrangements for these games. On the whole, the scale of this year’s events is greater than last year. The number is also a little more than last year. We will endeavor to improve our work and raise the quality, while maintaining the number of events.

Holding a series of large sporting events will raise our ability to organize different events and improve the level of local sports, while boosting the development of Shanghai’s modern service sector and other related industries. As for data about the contribution to the service sector, I recommend the reporter talks to the statistics authority. The contribution of sporting events to tourism, media, transport and other sectors is noticeable. The F1 race, for example, did a great effect to promote Sinopec and other domestic brands. Thus staging events will not only help raise the sporting level, but also enhance the city’s civilization. A large number of Chinese and foreign athletes and coaches will come to Shanghai, and a large number of Chinese and foreign reporter will come to Shanghai. This requires Shanghai citizens to be civilized hosts. It’s a boost in the civilization of Shanghai citizens, and also an opportunity to consolidate and accentuate the material and moral aspects of civil society.

9. Shanghai Business: The guideline banned attempts to change the function of public service facilities without permission. Is there punishment for such a thing? Thank you.

Jiao Yang: The stipulation that the function of public services cannot be changed at will is very strict. A change requires approval from district or county government. How will those who presume to change the public service function be treated? The second clause of the fifth part of the guideline says that they will be punished in accordance with the Shanghai city planning regulations and the rules relating to residential property management.

10. International Finance News: As you mentioned, drinking water in downtown meets the national standard, but there is a gap between the water quality of remote suburbs and downtown. Could you give more information about the water quality in the remote suburbs? You also said A1 is a race of nations, and the car brand must come from the country the team plays for. So which brand has been picked by our country to run the race?

Jiao Yang: The city government not only pays attention to downtown water quality, but to the water quality of the whole of Shanghai. In Shanghai’s second round of the three-year environmental protection plan, the improvement in sewage processing will cover more suburban areas to enhance the water quality there and meet the requirements associated with the building of a new socialist countryside and suburb.

I haven’t got information about the car brand for A1. The reporter can ask the experts at the city’s sports bureau after the conference.

11. Phoenix Satellite Television: We know that the State Council also approved the high-speed rail link between Beijing and Shanghai, together with the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev. Could you tell us something about the high-speed rail link? Also, the maglev train is expected to boost transport links to resemble those of a unitary city. What’s the rationale for the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway? Why does the government have such a plan?

Jiao Yang: First of all, I am not an expert on high-speed railways. I have difficulty in defining and explaining the high-speed railway. The city government also hasn’t been authorized to disclose such information. So today we won’t discuss the project here. Globally, high-speed railways are seen as a means to satisfy the demand for economic development and raised living standards, after an economy has already developed to a certain level. The maglev line also aims to meet such demands. Traveling as if within one city is not only our aim, but is also a natural result of economic and social development. The developing economy grants us the technological and economic ability to satisfy people’s increasing needs for convenient and comfortable travel. These developments target people ultimately, a harmonious socialist society engaged in sustainable development.

12. Oriental Morning Post: Some recent media reports stated that some electricity facilities were damaged in the suburbs. Has the municipal government noticed the issue, and taken any measures to prevent such situations? Has there been any great loss?

Jiao Yang: This is an issue the city government has been concerned with. Not long ago, the city issued a regulation governing the circulation of scrap metal. In fact, it was in relation to the repeated damage and theft of power facilities. Power facilities affect national economic security as well as that of the city and society. The city’s Party committee and government always attaches great importance to the issue. The State Council has recently issued a circular about the protection of electricity facilities, which will be the guideline for Shanghai to in this area.

Theft and damage of power facilities happens in the city from time to time. According to statistics, the number of such cases in the city is increasing. In 2005, there were 1,983, a jump of 189 percent from a year earlier and causing economic loss of nearly 20 million yuan. It also affected production of power supply companies and posed a threat to the safe operation of the electricity grid. In addition, accidental damage such as negligent construction and collisions between vehicles and telegraph poles was also serious. In 2005, 300 such accidents occured, resulting in economic losses of 5.24 million yuan and the loss of nearly 1.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

Following the requirements of the State Council’s circular, the city will augment the legal framework relating to the protection of power facilities. The city will intensify oversight in three key ways. The first is to strike strongly at the theft and damage of power facilities, and to intensify efforts to crack down on the larger instances. The second is to strengthen supervision and management of the circulation of scrap metal, to block the channels for the selling of stolen goods. The third is to institute mandatory punishments to reduce instances of illegal and negligent construction damaging and threatening the safety of the electricity grid. Meanwhile, the city is studying the building of four defensive systems – a social protection system with the participation of the whole of society, a government-company system between public security authorities and electricity companies, a judicial punishment system established by the public security, procurator and judicial departments, and a technical defence system set-up by power companies themselves. We believe that the protection of electricity facilities in the city will be improved further, with the support of citizens.

Well, we’re out of time, today’s Shanghai Municipal Government Press Conference is now over. Thanks to all who attended.