At a press conference on December 3, the Shanghai Municipal Government spokesman Jiao Yang introduced the following issues and answered reporters' questions.

The main industrial economic indices in Shanghai are expected to reach a record high this year. Local farmers' revenues are predicted to increase by more than seven percent from the previous year, the largest growth over the past six years. With the peak period for power consumption around the corner this winter, Shanghai will adopt measures in seven aspects to ensure power supply to residents, key departments and units. Shanghai will issue a new government regulation to release warning signals on disastrous weather to the public.

Shanghai Oriental TV Station: You have mentioned that some commercial companies would be asked to change their work schedules during peak power-using periods, but such measures were not conducted this summer. Can you introduce us to the details?

Jiao Yang: We didn't take such measures this summer. A record-breaking heat wave this summer pushed up power consumption above generating capacity for more than ten times. The local power generating machines overloaded, and local residents and government departments took measures to save electricity. The Shanghai electric power department gained experience from its successful battle against power shortage this summer, and will try hard to find other ways to save power. Commercial sector is one of the largest power consumers in Shanghai, and the electric power department is currently busy drawing up counter measures. We will inform you right after the measures are in place.

Shanghai Television Station: Farmers in local suburban areas enjoy soaring revenues this year. Can you give me the figures? What are the measures to make their revenues rise? You mentioned that some firms with high energy consumption but low added-values such as small steel makers would be crossed out of the market in a legal way. Can you tell me the timetable and concrete measures?

Jiao Yang: I answered your second question first. All the Chinese cities and provinces are rectifying such companies, and above all, we will conduct the move according to the law. There is no timetable yet, but we will definitely take the move in the light of the actual circumstances.

As to your first question, I can give you exciting information. Local farmers' total revenues are predicted to exceed 6,650 yuan (US$801) this year, up more than seven percent from a year before, the largest growth over the past six years. Their disposable income reached 5,500 yuan in the first three quarters of the year, up 7.2 percent (369 yuan) from the previous year, also the biggest increase over the past six years.

The Shanghai municipal government adopted several measures to raise farmers' income. Firstly, enhance non-agricultural employment. Some 108,000 non-agricultural jobs were created in the first nine months of the year, with the number exceeding 120,000 by November, which has raised farmers' per capita income by two percentage points; secondly, cut agricultural taxes; thirdly, speed up agricultural structure adjustment; fourthly, perfect social security system in local suburban area, and raised the medical subsidies to farmers from 15 yuan to 30 yuan per capita; fifthly, help farmers raise property revenues by encouraging them buying shares into firms, leasing properties and transferring their using right of contracted lands. Shanghai will strengthen measures to focus on non-agricultural employment and raising farmers' wages in the future.

Xinwen Morning News: What is seasonal power pricing? Will the policy affect a lot of families?

Jiao Yang: We can manage normal power supply, but when the temperature goes to extremes seasonally, high or low, the city can be short of electricity on a regular base. The policy affects the working places most. We'd rather encourage the residents to save electricity voluntarily. The power pricing policy to charge households higher in the daytime and lower at night will also encourage them to avoid using electricity during peak hours.

International Finance: Media reports said recently that there would be a new real estate policy to limit the trading of the pre-sold appartments. Who will draft the new policy? What's it all about? Can you explain why the city is receiving fewer overseas funds lately?

Jiao Yang: I haven't got official data about the foreign fund reduction as you've mentioned. As far as I know, overseas fund has been poured into the city gradually and been rising considerably so far. Our spokesperson panel will help your investigation after the meeting.

The real estate administration will surely be the policy maker. I know that the policy is being discussed and drafted. Why shall we make such a policy and study the situation? Because the prospering housing market needs supervision and central tuning. We plan to intensify the ruling on land provision. It's important and fundamental that we manage the tempo when leasing out more lots and make sure that the lands leased are all made full use of. Secondly, we plan to solve the problem in the layout of the commercial housing projects. We'll continue to manage the amount of the downtown homes to be pulled down and the families to be relocated, and to balance the supply of housing to the lower- and middle-income families. At the same time, a positive monetary policy to return taxes to such families for their home rent or home purchase is also a must. Thirdly, we'll restrict speculation, continue to encourage people to buy homes for self living, and limit their need for investment. The administration is considering whether to halt the trading of the pre-sold appartments. A policy is being studied. What's more, we are speeding up our efforts to build a market allarming system and an online database for housing contracts to regulate sales and increase market transparency to restrict speculations.

Taikongpao: Is there any difference in the power supply situation of the city between the winter and the summer? Secondly, what will be the focus of tasks by the newly appointed chief of the local typhoon studies center, whom the Shanghai Meteorologic Bureau invited from Hong Kong?

Jiao Yang: I recommend you to the bureau chief for your second question because he is also present here today. For the first question, I'll say that we'll implement what we made successful during last summer and streamline the interim measures. Power suppliers will stress its power supply planning to restrict any sudden stop in power supply. Reporters can interview the officials of the department who are also present here.

Yomiuri Shinbun (Japan): When will the city start to order factories to change their work schedules to cut power use this winter? And when will the new policy be due? Is that policy subject to overseas companies? Some companies complain about the city's sudden cut of power supply this summer when Shanghai faced a sudden shortage of electricity. Will the same power cut measure be adopted this winter and will the government improve the policy?

Jiao Yang: As for power use, we've always been trying to ensure the supply for overseas enterprises as possible. The sudden cut of power supply as occurred this summer won't happen in winter, even if the overall power market in Shanghai is in tight supply. The power supply department has made preparation for that occasion. We'll try to notify before hand the enterprises that will be evolved in the power cut. As for the duration you referred to about the power cut policy, I think it will begin as long as the power use peak arrives. The power management department will cooperate with the meteorological bureau on the duration of the cold days. In this case, period of the power use policy is not fixed but depends on the weather.

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News Times: You referred to the power cut for overseas enterprises. Will local residents get involved in the policy? I've noticed lukewarm reactions to the new housing subsidy policy at local subsidy registration offices. Will you raise the subsidy standards?

Jiao Yang: So far, our related departments haven't cut power supply to local residents. The new housing subsidy policy took effect from December 1, mainly targeted at families of low-to-mid income. The policy is not for the general public, but clearly, for the low-income households.

Shanghai City Leaders: With the New Year nearing, migrant workers are heading home. Does the municipal government has concrete measures to ensure them get their pay for hard work and happily go home?

Jiao Yang: Migrant workers deserve salaries via hard work. The money doesn't come easy. Therefore, the municipal government will take measures to ensure migrant workers to get their legal income and clamp down on their employees not paying the salaries.

STV Financial Channel: During the past one year since Shanghai's successful bid to hold the 2010 World Expo, what has been done to enable the market operation for the event? And what else remain to be done?

Jiao Yang: Work to enable the market operation of the World Expo has started as the Shanghai Office of BIE has recently set up and two companies will be launched. As for further actions, we can offer to help you follow the situation.

Shanghai Education Post: Under the topic of safe electricity use, I'm more concerned with the Shanghai Municipal Government's measures for power use at our primary and secondary schools. As far as I know, Beijing has intensified the power regulation on primary and secondary schools. Will Shanghai follow up and unveil similar policies?

Jiao Yang: Shanghai government has made inspection into power use at student dormitories of local schools. Results of the check are not so optimistic. Despite the government's repetitive emphasis on appropriate and safe use of electricity, we've found out many schools don't follow in the correct way. For example, some schools apply electricity wires at their own will at student dormitories and possible security problems remain. In this case, Shanghai Education Commission and the power management department have drafted out concrete regulations governing these cases to ensure safe electricity use in the education sector.

Shanghai Youth Daily: How is Shanghai's weather forecasting quality compared with that in world? You just mentioned Shanghai will issue early warning regarding foul weather, how early will it be?

Jiao Yang: As I now, the weather forecasting standard in Shanghai is of high level in China. As for how is it compared with that in the world, I suggest you seek the answer with meteorology experts.

Factor of foul weather changes from time to time, so does the time of issuing warnings, therefore we can not said exactly how early the warning will be. The meteorology station will analyses the factors that form foul weather and make forecast as accurate as possible. The warning will be issued only when we have enough confidence in it. It's not the earlier warning the better. Although I'm not an expert in meteorology, I wish to call your attention that Shanghai is a big city geographically, the weather condition is not all the same throughout the city, so citizen in different areasof Shanghai may have different impression on the accuracy of our weather forecast.

Oriental Morning Post: In the past summer some enterprises have rescheduled their production to non-peak hours or closed for several days to save power consumption. Later I learnt from an interview with officials in the Shanghai Economic Commission that these enterprises might get compensation for this practice. Have they got the compensation yet? If so, in what form are the compensated?

Early warning is a basic step of anti-disaster procedure. How is the nature disaster prevention system of the city? Will the government issue the situation is this aspect?

Jiao Yang: Shanghai Economic Commission is working on compensating and encouraging measures for enterprises that adjust their production schedule to cope with the city power supply situation. This will be a long-term policy.

As for your second question, the disaster prevention system is a large network including many categories such as foul weather, earthquake and others. The government put much emphasis on the system. We have already worked out the outline of the network and assigned tasks to related government organs. You can turn to the related departments for further information.

Shanghai Daily: With the coal price surging, will the government concern to link the electricity price with it?

Because the interest of power supplying enterprise will be harmed if coal price keep rising while electricity remain the same all the time. What shall we do to solve this problem? As for the peak hour power rate, what¡¯s the ratio between the peak hour power rate and the non-peak one?

Jiao Yang: The task of a government is to try its best to protect the right and interest of all parties. I haven't heard of the information about linking coal price with power rate.

Your second question is a very professional one, so I suggest you seek the answer with official from the power supply department.

The Bund: Concerning government measures on protecting of the last marsh "Jiuduansha" in Shanghai, shall we say it's a well-thought-out plan of just treading on eggs?

We've learnt from other media that due to price concern, Shanghai may fail to consume any nature gas from west China. So when will Shanghai citizen be able to use the nature gas from the nation's nature gas transmitting project?

Jiao Yang: The city government put much attention to the protection of Jiuduansha marsh, and gives high priority to the balance between economic development and environment protection. I don't think the word" tread on egg" is proper. We have worked out related measure already.

The nature gas transmission project is undergoing in a nation-wide allocation. The related organs in Shanghai are initiatively cooperating with the national department in this area.

Wenhui Daily: When will the signals of foul weather early warning be release?

Jiao Yang: The Standing Committee of Shanghai Government has passed the bill on issuing foul weather early warnings. The government notice will be release soon. While the meteorology department needs time to work out the actual warning signals, afterwards discuss and publicize them on the media. All the works need time to go step by step. General the signals will be release in the first quarter of next year. I cannot tell on which day it will be exactly.