Taiwan TVBS: A new SARS case was confirmed in Taiwan at noon today. Can you tell me what Shanghai will do to prevent the SARS outbreak? As businessmen from Singapore and Taiwan frequently visit Shanghai, are there any corresponding measures in the city to deal with the people from the two places?

Jiao Yang: I have noticed the information you mentioned. SARS prevention is a tough issue around the world. Since July this year, Shanghai has made a long-term and efficient management on SARS prevention, keeping a close eye on SARS epidemic. Shanghai drew up a three-year plan in public health system to react to the emergencies. The local government will pay much attention to the SARS epidemic, strengthening efforts on the prevention work. All levels of governments and departments will lay emphasis on preventing from SARS, which is likely to reoccur in this winter or early spring next year. The city will also improve local public health system and capabilities to deal with emergencies. We will establish a public health center by the first half of next year, and enhance public health education for all the citizens to help them cultivate good sanitation habits and awareness in public places. The local SARS prevention work is a routine work, with an inspection and quarantine system available for all the passengers. We have no special measures currently specifically for passengers from certain areas.

Shanghai Television Station News Channel: How about the schooling of the children of migrant labors? What are the requirements for the children to apply for local schooling?

Jiao Yang: As I mentioned just now, Shanghai has had around 320,000 children of migrant labors, and now at different schools, with 120,000 at local public schools and 200,000 at 420 schools specifically for such children. The 420 schools are mainly located at the areas linking both the urban and suburban areas, including Baoshan, Minhang, Pudong New Area, Songjiang and Jiading District. In 1998, Shanghai began to carry out an interim regulation on such children at school age. Following the requirements of the Shanghai leaders, Shanghai Education Commission and Shanghai Public Security Bureau will enhance inspection on school-houses, facilities and sanitation conditions at the 420 schools specially for children of migrant labors.
The migrant labors with at least one year of work in Shanghai and stable dwellings can apply for their children's schooling to the related educational administrative departments or the village and town-based government. They can handle the schooling affairs after get approval from those departments.

Shanghai Today: The number of migrant labors in Shanghai has reached more than 3.8 million, and 120,000 of their children receive education at public schools. Do they receive the same treatment as native children? Why not all of them go to public schools?

Jiao Yang: Firstly, I will correct one of your figures. There are currently more than 3.8 million permanent residents from outside the city, with migrant labors accounting for 85 percent. It is no doubt that such children at public schools receive the same treatments as native students.
As to your second question, we have a principle: going to the nearby school. The local educational resources are imbalanced in Shanghai, with fewer children of migrant labors in downtown areas while more children in suburban areas. Therefore, in local downtown areas, there are more educational resources, while in suburban areas, there are fewer such resources.

People's Daily: The government news conference in July released a policy granting local employees rights to run private companies. In Oct, it's reported that the policy was applied to people around the city, rather than in the pilot region Pudong only. Why did you issue such a policy? What's the latest development of its implementation? What's your opinion on the argument that there's no need for the policy because the employees have always been able to start companies?

Jiao Yang: The first issue has long been concerned by the media and the government. The policy was first on a trial run in Pudong, attracting local and migrant business starters. Among the new bosses, we found no violators who were either public servants or managements of the state-owned companies. Based on Pudong's experience, the policy is now being expanded to all the other districts of the city. The purpose of the policy is to diversify the investment channels to include more private capitals. Previously, only the peasants, the unemployed and the retired were approved to own private companies. The employed are not allowed to invest in private businesses. The restriction resulted in abnormalities, such as a company registered by one person but held by another. The pilot program in Pudong is progressing well, welcomed by the public.

Bund Album: Here's my first question. Recent data indicates that private cars are increasing in Shanghai in recent years, especially this year, when the non-automobiles are also increasing fast, at a rate of approximate 20 percent. However, there aren't any data released yet about the number of the buses of public transportation, which travel twice the distance of the private cars. Is there any policy targetting the public transportation means, rather than the private cars and the out-of-town cars, to solve the traffic problems? Here is my second question. Another topic of public concern is the recent resources shortage in the city, such as gas, oil and electricity. This summer, power cut relaxed the shortage in peak hours. Now, as the Spring Festival is drawing closer, have you made any preparations for another peak season to guard against the power shortage? 

Jiao Yang: The issue about the management on traffic jam, the public transportation means and the private cars, including the taxis and the out-of-town vehicles, are of the public concern of most fast developing metropolitans. We've played an active role in tracking the traffic flow and drafting relative rules. As you know, the traffic administration has put forward a series of new rules this year, and I believe our intensive studies on the current situation and newly emerged problems will help generate a set of effective measures to alleviate traffic congestion and ensure public security.

For the second question, I've made inclusive explanations during last press conference. Local power supplier have been working hard to transport enough backup from other regions and make full preparations in local stations, such as careful equipment overhaul beforehand, to ensure safe generation and supply during peak hours. In addition, the government's lobbying effort to the central administration on power additional power quota is also paying off. An additional power flow of 2 million kw is traveling to the city, with another 1 million kw still possible. It's estimated that power supply for the coming winter is likely to be well managed. One more point to make clear today is that the power shortage in the city is only an interim crisis which will is sure to be solved through government input and public support. With more citizens awoken to make thrift use of eletricity voluntarily, we believe that we can shoulder our way through this winter. In this way,  local investment environment is also likely to be improved gradually.

International Financce: You've mentioned an international cruise center to be built in the Northern Bund region, which happened to be of great interest to Star Cruise. Is it one of the participants of the cruise program? Can you give us any hints?

Jiao Yang: The cruise project was mentioned in my last talk on the general developments on both sides of the banks of the Huangpu River, which also includes the building of a tourist center along the river. What you mentioned is a singular case, and we can help you learn more after the meeting.

Real Estate Times: Some lawyers point out that the restrictive rule on pre-sale home transaction contradicts with the existing housing policy as well as some articles of the Contract Law.  How's the government's comment on this? Will the new restrictive rule come out as scheduled?  The second question is we learned the tax rate of housing contraction will be raised back to 3 percent from early next year.  Is this true?

Jiao Yang: I haven't heard about the second question.  As for the housing rule, I made clear explanations in last press conference.  The question you raised is about the law.  I want to stress that Shanghai government's goal is to build itself into a government of service-giving, responsibility-taking and law-abiding.  I believe the government abides by law when unveiling any measure.

Hunan TV: Shanghai Municipal Government has launched a wide adjustment on commission fees for the city's housing intermediary companies since October.  After the measure was unveiled, some companies proposed the government to raise commission rate. But none of the proposals have been approved so far.  My question is what's the standard to rate the companies' commission charges?

Jiao Yang:  I've no information about the commission rates you talked about.  But after the meeting I'll try to get more information for you.

Xinmin Evening News: Does the same education rights the children of migrant workers in Shanghai to enjoy with local residents mean the migrant students will take the entrance exams for high school and university with the local peers?  If not, they will return back hometown to take the exams.  But the textbooks applied there may not be the same as in Shanghai.  What's your comment on this?  Second question is the West-to-East gas project will provide gas for Shanghai due to the price.  Will Shanghai government take new measures to coordinate for the issue?

Jiao Yang:  The education policy applies for the nine-year compulsory education.  Therefore, the question you raised will not occur.  Textbook is a problem. I'll point out that Shanghai is the education comprehensive reform area.  It chooses at its own will the textbooks for the state-run schools from those approved by the nation's Education Ministry.  In that case, children of migrant workers, entitled to all the same treatment as their Shanghainese schoolmates, will use the same textbooks in these public schools as their Shanghai peers.  In migrant-workers-run schools, the school runner determines textbooks.  In fact, when choosing a school, students and their parents should take this factor into consideration.  Migrant students from across the nation have different backgrounds, but Shanghai government will manage the education sector according to requirements by the nation's educational ministry.  For your second question, I haven't learned that the gas of the West-to-East Project won't arrive Shanghai because of price problem.  My only knowledge is that Shanghai government is taking active measures in all areas to get ready for the gas from the West.  It's an essential gas source.  Shanghai applies high attentions.

HK Ta Kung Pao: CEPA will take effect from January 1.  From then on, 273 types of Hong Kong commodities will supply Shanghai at zero tariffs and will probably challenge Shanghai market.  What's your view on it?  Has the local government prepared some policies to tackle the situation?  In your speech, you said a tourism wharf is in planning in Shanghai.  Can you disclose more information about it?  I remember that last month Yu Li with Shanghai Pujiang Development Office noted there are lots of business opportunities along the each side of Huangpu River.  Can you specify the opportunities?

Jiao Yang: As for ECPA, Shanghai doesn't feel strained for it and it's not necessary to design special measures to prepare for its arrival from January 1.  In fact, CEPA is a key strategy for mutual development and prosperity of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.  Shanghai will actively support it, implements it and push it.  The arrival of Hong Kong commodities in Shanghai will provide a chance to upgrade local market and raise the competitiveness of local products.  Shanghai government and citizens are quite open to it and taking a welcome altitude.

Planning of the wharf is still undergoing, I can't disclose more information to you.

As for the official who said of plenty business opportunities, I quite agree.  As for the opportunities, the Pujiang Development Office is more likely the right person to tell you.  A long time from now on, Shanghai government will take high attentions to the bund revitalization project and will make actions to push it.  The project will also become a focus of attention for local residents as well as business people from home and abroad.

Shanghai Youth Daily: We learnt through investigation that many schools opened for children of out-of-town labors are privately-ran. Some of these schools use shabby warehouse as school buildings, and hire unqualified teachers to save money. With today’s notice issued, will the government take any measure to guarantee the qualification of the schools and teachers?

Jiao Yang: In the past, some privately-ran schools did use unqualified schoolhouses and substandard teaching materials, probably in the aim of grabbing more profits. Shanghai's educational authority and related organs are looking into these problems. We'll encourage and support those schools with qualified condition, and give suggestions of improvement to those unqualified ones. If the school authority fails to make any improvement, we will possibly close down the school. The Shanghai government strong opposes any practice of running schools merely for money in the cost of harming students' interests. The Shanghai Educational Committee has worked out regulations against these practices. In the notice issued today, schools for out-of-towner labors’ children are included in the administration scope of district and county education authority. We did so to back the administration with laws regulations. And in case of any malpractice, we can find the responsible party. Therefore, the problem you mention will be improved in future. Official from the education committee are also present at today's news conference, you may ask them for further information after the press.

Wenwei Po(Hong Kong): Previously it was reported Shanghai will build a 200-meter Ferris wheel on north Bund, how is the project going now? Besides, I heard a Ferris wheel of 210 meter high will be built in Beijing. Will Shanghai adjust its original design in respond to the move?

Jiao Yang: I haven't heard of the Ferris wheel project in Beijing, so I cannot give any comment on that. Truly we have the Ferris wheel project in Shanghai, yet I'm not very clear about the progress of the project. I believe any project will be carried on in accordance with the regulations. If all necessary procedures are well prepared, I believe the construction will break ground soon.

German Public Radio ARD: Many historical building locate in the Bund area and Huangpu District. What protective measures will be taken in future?

Jiao Yang: We have released detailed measurements on historical building protection before. In the work meeting it is emphasized all historical building shall be protected as well as possible. Shanghai will preserve its image as a city of history and culture, and keep balance between historical building protection and economic development. The development project along the Huangpu River will be carried on with this principal; we will preserve the style and culture of the Bund. All historic building cognized by the state cultural relic department will be preserved, with some shift in their function possibly. The renovation work of the buildings will be carried on in accordance with the original style and feature.