1. Eastern Radio Shanghai: The Chinese F1 Grand Prix ended successfully. It is reported that Shanghai spent too much while purchasing the F1 sponsorship, and Shanghai could have bargained with them. Why not? Secondly, Siemens is reported to be taking part in the construction of the 170-kilometer Maglev train between Shanghai and Hangzhou. The plan has been submitted for approval. Is it true?

Jiao Yang: The information that you have about the F1 Grand Prix is concrete, but I haven't received any data from the authorities, including the comparative statements from other countries, so I cannot confirm it. The funds for the F1 sponsorship is a business secret, which cannot be revealed by a government spokesman.
With reference to your second question, the project is related to the layout between these two places, which should be decided by the national departments. As for the discussion, I haven't acquired such information. Our attitude is: Shanghai will follow the decision of the national departments.

2. Shanghai Television Station News Channel: Recently, we heard that the damaged section of the local Rail Transport No.4 is being repaired. Can you let me know the extent of damage? Will the completed section be put into operation? The extended northern section of the RT No.1 is currently being experimented. When will it be put into actual use?

Jiao Yang: After the emergencies in the construction of RT. No.4 were eased, a repair team and specialist committee was established. The renovation plan has currently been approved by experts after deliberation. The damaged sections will be renovated at the original site, and now the preparations are well under way.
The RT No.4 is the only ring-shaped line in the local fundamental rail transport network. In order to utilize the line completely and thus serve the urban transport well, a proposal was submitted that when the damaged section is being renovated, the RT No.4 will be trial operated on the same line of RT No.3, with the experiments made by the end of this year as planned.

3. Shanghai Morning Post: Are there any special funds to protect cultural scenic areas? If there are, where do the funds come from? Secondly, as of last Friday, the local traffic was very heavy. I learnt that a total of 52,900 car license plates had been issued in the first nine months of this year. Do too many new vehicles cause traffic jams? Will the amount of new car license plates be controlled?

Jiao Yang: I am very glad to hear about the concern shown by local citizens. Currently, the city and district-level financial departments are establishing special funds to protect local cultural scenic areas and excellent historical architectural sites. These funds will be accounted for in the local financial budget but can be obtained from other channels, including contributions from domestic and overseas units, organizations and individuals, revenues from public historic architectural transfers and leases. Presently, the local department is drawing up regulations to establish and spend such funds. One point should be made specific: city and district (county)-level governments will establish accounts specifically for such funds and these will be supervised by financial and auditing departments.

You mentioned that local traffic was very heavy last Friday. It is mainly due to the holding of the Chinese F1 Grand Prix. It was a special case and not a general one. During the previous two press conferences, I have introduced the city's long-term plan to ease local traffic congestion. The local transport management policy really conflicts with the growing demand of private vehicles. Auctioning car license plates aims to control the total number of vehicles on the street, especially in downtown areas. I can inform you of how the yearly quotas of license plates are planned: the quotas are available on the basis of the regulations of Shanghai road transport management rules issued by the Shanghai People's Congress, the principals of Shanghai urban transport white papers, the requirements of local economic and social development, local demands for vehicles, urban road situation and environmental protection. After the annual quota is set, license plates will be issued on a monthly basis. Therefore, the quota is decided by comprehensive factors.

4. Chunichi Shimbun: Shanghai has adjusted its family planning policy that allows couples to have two children if certain requirements are met. After the policy was implemented, are there many couples applying for permission to have the second child? Is the figure exceeding or falling short of expectations? Secondly, we found in our interviews that many qualified couples are willing to have their second child, but in Shanghai, educational costs are very high, which is incompatible with their income. Many families cannot afford it and consider it a policy that is targeting the rich. What do you think?

Jiao Yang: After the new family planning policy was introduced in Shanghai, a total of 1,813 couples had applied for the permission to have the second child by the end of August this year. With regard to your second question, the policy treats all qualified couples equally. Parents themselves can decide the extent of their expenditure for educational purposes. Currently, a couple with one child is our fundamental national policy and the nine-year compulsory education program is for all children. In a metropolis such as Shanghai, local citizens pay great attention to the education of their children. Many parents advise their children to learn music and foreign languages from childhood. However, educational spending is unlimited and parents should personally decide whether they could afford educational costs of two children or not. As educational costs are affected by many factors, such as living standards and the future growth prospects of children, it is not easy to judge this.

5.  Eastday.com:  As you've just suggested, what concrete measures

will the relevant governments take to protect historical and cultural buildings in protected zones?  What punishments will be meted out for the destruction of excellent historic buildings?

Jiao Yang: As for the existing buildings of historical and cultural interest in protected zones, the city's planning department has divided the architecture that will need protection and renovation into five groups.
1). Buildings under legal protection, refers to all levels of revered buildings that have an long and important history, the three groups of excellent historical buildings as determined by the city government;
2). Preserved historical buildings refers to those old buildings with well maintained architectural characteristics.  According to the regulations, complete remodeling is not permitted on these buildings;
3). Ordinary historical buildings, refers to buildings that feature ordinary architecture but are part of a whole architectural structure.  For these buildings, either partial preservation is required, or the entire structure must preserve the original style or pattern.
Complete restructuring is allowed for these buildings, but the original style must be preserved.  Also, the reconstruction requires approval from the administrative authority as well as an expert team of architects;
4). Buildings that must be demolished mainly refers to dilapidated buildings or those that have become eyesores on the city's landscape and cannot be restructured to match their surroundings;
5). Other buildings, includes newly-built buildings, those under construction, and those that can be attuned to their surrounding environment by re-structuring.  (Those needing preserving or a face-lift.)
As for your second question, in the regulations there are clear punishments for destroying excellent historic buildings. 
In detail, the punishment is as follows:
* For acts that randomly change building use, interior design and functions without government approval, or acts that threaten the structure抯 safety, the real estate authority will demand restitution and will probably impose a penalty equivalent to between 2 and 20  percent of the building's value;
* For renovations that fail to meet government regulations or technical standards, the real estate authority will demand restitution and probably a penalty equivalent to between 3 and 30  percent of the building's value;
* For random relocations of buildings, the planning authority will demand restitution or restoration and probably a penalty equivalent to one to three times the building's value;
* For randomly dismantling buildings, the planning authority will demand restitution or restoration and probably a penalty equivalent to three to five times the building's value. Violators must receive approval from the planning department for the restoration.
Of course, those who have violated the law must be subjected to criminal punishment.

6. Dragon TV:  You have just said that all buildings that feature Shanghai's historical periods and contain cultural and artistic value must be protected.  As I know, in Hongkou District there is still a building left where the Japanese army operated a military sex service in the 1930s.  My question is: are these kinds of buildings also under protection?   So far as I know, according to Hongkou's urban planning, this building will be replaced by a green space.  Since the historical values of these buildings no longer exist, should we still protect them? And how do we protect them?

Jiao Yang: The 398 historic buildings of the last three groups have been published on the website but those of the 230 buildings in the fourth group have not yet been published.  In this sense, I can't accurately tell you whether this building you have referred to is under protection.  But one thing is for sure, the city government's resolution to provide the strictest protection for historical buildings is of no doubt.
At work meetings, Mayor Han Zheng mentioned how we will set up a strict protection system. 
First is the conception. Governments at all levels and the whole of society must understand that protection is as important as construction for development.  We can't cut off Shanghai's historical ties.
The second is mechanism and regulation.  When planning, we must outline the protection zones and structures according to the regulations.  Then, we must ensure the implementation of the regulations.  We must establish a long-term management system for funding and regular management.  Protection will be ensured only if we apply the regulations strictly in all cases.

7. Shanghai Daily:  You've mentioned that five groups of buildings are under protection.  Then into which group do buildings built before 1949 fall? And how would the government protect those buildings that have already been sold to developers? What is the total area of the buildings built before 1949? And where are most located?

Jiao Yang:  The local authority has surveyed buildings that need protection.  A further inspection based on the results of the survey is needed before we work out a concrete renovation plan.  According to the initial survey, there are 12 million square meters buildings built before 1949.
Speaking of protection, we need the cooperation of the whole society because of the huge area of the historic architecture zones and excellent historic buildings.  Currently, on a trial basis we are seeking to improve our protection efforts via the market mechanism.  All parties in the society are encouraged to join the program if they are capable of handling the work according to the regulations. The principle is that the government provides support, experts give guidance and control the quality, corporations operate, citizens participate, and all social groups cooperate.  Developers must do their duties according to the laws and regulations as well as meeting the appropriate legal responsibilities.

8.NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation):It is said that the plan to build a Universal Studios theme park in Shanghai has been
suspended. Some even say that the project has been dropped. I want to know the reason.

Jiao Yang: The success of any project depends not on the intention of the government but on that of the investors. The theme park project is no exception. In fact, project failures are common. Among the city's more than one thousand projects conceived annually, some go ahead smoothly, whereas others break down midway or are even aborted before they begin. 

9. Jiefang Daily: Since the market mechanism was introduced into the conservation of local historic buildings, the relocation fees charged by residents in these buildings have become exorbitant. Will the municipal government give them preferential treatment and meet their demands? Secondly, the total number of vehicle license plates is under government control. How many vehicle license plates will be granted this year?

Jiao Yang: I'm sorry that I haven't got the data for license plates. Please consult the authorities concerned.
           Shanghai has its special difficulties in protecting historic buildings. Usually, a local historic building houses quite a few families. The poor housing conditions pose a real challenge to the building's conservation. To relocate the residents in historic buildings is now an urgent task for the city. however, a dilemma arises when the residents have to dedcide whether or not to resettle. Although life is hard for those living in crowded housing, they ask for much higher relocation fees than the fees government can afford. In fact, the municipal government has taken their interests into account. Residents living in historic buildings are offered a somewhat higher relocation fee than other residents. We hope that these residents will cooperate with the government to protect historic buildings, which are the common property of local citizens.

10. Labor Daily: It was formerly reported that the project to extend the No.1 Metro line northward would be completed by the end of 2003. Later it is said that the project will be finished by this National Day holiday. Could you please confirm the news？
Jiao Yang: I don't have that information right now, but I would be happy to get it for you.

11. Agence France Press(AFP): The city's popularity increased after it successfully held the Chinese F1 Grand Prix and won the bid to host World Expo 2010. Will the city organize other big events? Does the government have any plan to build first-class arts facilities? It is said that the municipal government will altogether invest 20 billion yuan (US$ 2.44 billion) to improve local cultural life during the five years (2001-2005). How will the money be spent? Secondly, what do you think of the level of the city's globalizaion?  What makes Shanghai different from other metropolises?

Jiao Yang: I won't answer the second question here because it is rather academic. Different people will have different views. In fact, the city is trying hard to achieve modernization.  
           In answer to your first question, more events will be staged in Shanghai in the future. As a globalized city, Shanghai hosts many significant events every year. Among the cultural events are the Shanghai International Arts Festival and the Shanghai International Tourism Festival. Among the sports events are the Chinese F1 Grand Prix, the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai 2002 and the Sports Fair.
           The municipal government has drawn up a detailed plan, which touches upon many aspects of local culture life. For example, the plan spells out the museums and cultural facilities that Shanghai needs to build. I will explain this plan in detail after the news briefing.
          I don't know where you got the figure of Shanghai's investment in cultural projects. I believe the culture industry has a promising future and should be supported by the whole society. Shanghai's culture industry will be both commercially-operated and government-supported.

12. Shanghai Evening Post: As a means of obtaining information, the open of policy is gaining importance with the common citizens of Shanghai. However, each district government has its own method of operation with the open policy. One has its own BBS, the other has a district office mail box in place, while some are slow in the updating of their respective web pages. Could you inform me if the municipal government has considered standardizing the functioning and management of the district goverments' web sites? Are there any new measures adopted to ensure that these municipal web sites will be accessible to citizens? Thank you.

Jiao Yang: Despite the fact that the municipal government maintains mutual communications with these district governments' web sites, the district governments are solely responsible for the management of  their own web sites. The daily operation, updating and maintenance of the municipal governments' web sites are under the charge of a special editorial department and also another special department such as Eastday, for its technical maintenance.  On May 1, major corrections were made to the municipal web site.

13. Xin Ming, Evening Post: According to the municipal Bureau of Real Estate, the main construction limit of middle-low-price housing blocks has been extended to the Outer Ring Road. It is understood that due to the rise in land prices, the original price (of 3500 yuan (US$ 424) per square meter) would be exceeded.  If so, what is the future price? Thank you.

Jiao Yang: I've also noticed similar reports in the newspapers. The municipal government has sped up the construction and promotion of  common commodity houses that are priced at lower than 3500 yuan per square meter, in order to meet the pressing needs of the residents who move away in order to cooperate with significant municipal constructions. 1,370,000 sm of houses have been completed - 940,000 sm recently commenced and 4,200,000 sm opened to the market between January and August this year. It is planned to start the construction of another 2,560,000 sm of houses, taking the total area to 8,000,000 sm this year . Meanwhile, we will increase the availablity of land for common commodity houses.  To be frank, the municipal real estate bureau once received some complaints from the exceptional houses' development units that their burdens were too heavy due to heavy cost but low prices.  However, the related departments hasn't considered revising the price of these common commodity houses.

14. PhoenixTV: There was an ground-sinking mishap on Pan Yu Rd, due to aged water pipes. Can you specify the number of aged pipes still in Shanghai and which department could give us any feedback.

Jiao Yang: I think you journalists may contact the supervising department because the problem of pipe aging has its historical reasons. I wonder if you contacted the related department. Maintaining a record of the number of aged pipes and such cases like ground-sinking are under the charge of the special department. However, if you journalists face any difficulties in obtaining information, we are willing to help you.

15. Travel Times: Are there any possibilities for cultural scenes and historic architectural sites to be identified as tourist spots? If so, how can they be protected?   

Jiao Yang: Some of the historic architectural sites that are already open to the public can be tourist spots.  Just like I mentioned above, we should protect these locations and make full use of them as well.