1. Shanghai Television News Channel: Shanghai's Metro Line No.1 is very crowded during peak times. Are there any measures to solve this problem, especially after the northern extension of the Metro Line No.1 is in operation?

Jiao Yang: To meet citizens' expectations, the department is developing the northern extension of Shanghai's Metro Line No.1. Test runs will be conducted within the year. It is also one of the measures to ease local traffic congestion. Our plan must consider both the capacity of the existing section and that of the extension. The local department has implemented a new schedule for local rail transport: the interval between trains for the existing line (Xinzhuang to Shanghai Railway Station) is three minutes, while it will be 12 minutes for the northern extension. Of every four trains from Xinzhuang, three will return from the original terminal (Shanghai Railway Station) to Xinzhuang to ensure the interval of three minutes during peak times; one train will arrive at the new terminal (Gongfuxincun Stop) and then return to Xinzhuang, with the average interval of 12 minutes between trains initially. That interval will decrease to nine minutes when more trains are added by May of next year. As the extended Metro Line No.1 has a total length of 32.54 kilometers, passengers should allow more time when taking the trains; with a large passenger flow during peak times, passengers bound to the Gongfuxincun might get on the trains at different stops rather than crowd into the Shanghai Railway Station Stop to take the train. Local media are expected to help us inform the public and gain support from the citizens.

2. Eastday: We have seen media reports on the Internet that the US-based Playboy club will be introduced to Shanghai. Do you have any information about what is happening? 

Jiao Yang: We have seen the reports on the Internet and consulted with related departments. The local industrial and commercial administrative department has received a registration application from the Playboy Enterprises International Inc, but after examination, the application did not comply with the requirements of China's corporate law and regulations for capital registration, so it has been turned down.

3. Shanghai Morning Post: What are the times of the first and last trains of the local RT. No.1 northern extension? The average interval between the trains is currently 12 minutes, much longer than that of the existing line (3 minutes). Why is the interval so long? Can you provide information about local rail transport plans?

Jiao Yang: The interval is really long. The new northern section is an extension of the Metro Line No.1, so it is different from opening a new independent line. I will explain the details to you. To meet the requirements of the northern extension, the department spent a large sum of money purchasing a supply of rail trains. It will take some time for the trains to arrive in city; to date, only the first group of six trains have arrived. In order to ease local traffic jams, people are expecting the northern extension to be operational as soon as possible. The city's rail transport department and metro operation company have overcome many difficulties to put five trains into operation on a trial basis within the year. But we still need a process to determine when we can operate trains at three minute intervals. And it will take about four years to reach that goal during peak periods. By that time, some trains will have eight cars instead of six to increase capacities.
The rail transport plan is a large issue. For more information, you can interview a spokesman with the Shanghai Transportation Bureau. However, I can summarize it for you. According to the plan, the northern extension of Shanghai's Metro Line No.1 will be operated this year on a trial basis, and the Rail Transport No.4 line will be under development and at the testing stage. Next year, the section from the Damuqiao Road to Lancun Road of the RT No.4 line will be operated on a trial basis.
It's all part of a plan to extend inner city rail lines from the existing 82 kilometers to more than 400 kilometers by the time the World Expo arrives in 2010, creating a new rail transport network designed to move 6 million commuters and sightseers per day in contrast to the present daily total of 1.3 million. Rail transport is expected to account for 35 percent of the city's total daily public passenger transport, up 23 percentage points from the present total. The plan will largely relieve traffic jams in local downtown areas, especially during the 2010 World Expo with crowds of visitors.

4. China Business News: I've read about new environmentally-friendly buses being available in the second round of the Three-Year Environmental Protection Act.  But at this press conference, no more information was presented about them.   Can you elaborate on this matter?

Jiao Yang: I've no more information about this area.  But we have officials here from the Department of the Environment.  You may consult them after the conference.

5. International Finance News:  The Shenzhen Municipal Government has unveiled a series of favorable policies to promote the city as a center of the insurance industry.  Has Shanghai any favorable policies in this area?  Shanghai has made great progress in social insurance this year.  Then what are the plans or specific projects for next year?

Jiao Yang:  The first question.  Shanghai's goal is to become four centers in accordance with the central government requirements and in line with the country's strategy.  One of the centers is for the financial sector.  Under the guidance of the national financial regulatory departments, including the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, Shanghai is  creating a positive climate for becoming a financial center.

The second question.  Next year's projects are still in the planning stage.  I can reveal these plans only with the approval of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.

6. Business News Daily: You have mentioned that one of this year's key measures to create jobs is to increase small loans.  What's the average size of the so-called small loan?  How many businesses have benefited from this policy and how many people have obtained loans?

Jiao Yang:  I can describe the policy to increase small loans.  Shanghai has lowered the thresholds of lending for individual guaranteed loans this year to support smaller business projects.  It has raised the maximum of guarantee-free loans from 50,000 yuan to 70,000 yuan.  In other words, currently an individual can borrow a loan of up to 70,000 yuan without a guarantee.  By the end of November, 1,819 such loans had been lent out involving 121 million yuan.  The detailed figures will come out at the end of this year.

7.Shanghai Midday Post: How will the city balance industrial development and environmental protection?  As far as we know, many public buses in poor condition are still in service.  What measures will the city take in this situation?

Jiao Yang: As for your second question, we have replaced 36,000 taxies and 2,911 public buses. These figures mean we have achieved 82 percent and 47 respectively of our three-year total targets according to the Euro II standards for emission levels.  We are pushing towards this three-year objective.  Successfully hitting this target would be the most satisfying answer to your question.  In a word, we are making progress.

Your first question is very good.  Shanghai will further implement a scientific approach towards relations between industrial development and environmental protection.  Out-moded techniques and means of production that damage the environment will be rejected.  

These are the specific details:

*To further promote re-cycling, which is the ultimate guarantee for pollution control and resource utilization.
*To further promote environmentally-friendly construction in industrial zones and parks.
*To strengthen the assessment of environmental impact, to utilize on-line inspection of pollution control and to implement the laws.

We should be very careful in bringing some foreign industry to Shanghai, and should ban those industries that are major consumers and polluters.

8.Associated Press: What is your response to the elimination of China's textile quotas to the US January 1?

Jiao Yang: Shanghai will adopt several responsible measures as described below to maintain a competitive advantage for the local textile industry in the global market once its textile quotas are eliminated in US.
*To establish an alarm system on textile exports. 
*To evade trade risks by tracking export prices and the volumes of local textiles.
*To further develop quality value-added products. To emphasize the importance of new types of chemical fibers and foreign textiles as industrial textiles.
*To perfect a brand strategy."

9. Phoenix Satellite TV: Official statistics shows that Shanghai has added about 640,000 new jobs in the first eleven months of this year. In what sectors are most of the new jobs created? Where are workers badly needed? Secondly, it is said that people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan will be allowed to set up privately owned small enterprises the same as mainland residents starting from January 1, 2005. They no longer need to worry about following the procedures for establishing joint ventures. Will the new policy be implemented as scheduled?

Jiao Yang: As to the second question, I don't have that information right now, but I would be happy to get it for you. In answer to your first question, various sectors have seen new jobs created. Let me give you an example. 12 citywide projects are already well underway to help tens of thousands of people find jobs. Five of these projects are aimed at the public service sector. Among these jobs are neighborhood cleaners, riverway cleaners, forest workers, elderly helpers and disabled helpers. The other seven projects will help those willing to become community assistants in such fields as traffic, environment, housing, and commodity markets.  The 12 projects are only part of the city's effort to create new jobs. The city's district and county governments have also launched projects to help hundreds of people find jobs. I would advise you to consult the city's Labor and Social Security Bureau for more details after the news briefing.  

10. Shanghai Evening Post: Shanghai will soon charge garbage disposal fees to corporate users. When will home users be asked to pay? Secondly, I've been told that the city will launch an early warning and response system for energy crisis. I'd like to know what will the city do if hit by an aviation fuel shortage.

Jiao Yang: Security is the city's big concern. Ensuring energy security is one component of a comprehensive emergency warning system that Shanghai has established. The mechanism not only reflects our improved city management but also ensures the city will continue to function in an emergency. As to the garbage disposal fee, I have discussed this topic in the past. The city has issued regulations concerning the imposition of garbage disposal fees for corporate users which will come into effect on January 1, 2005. Shanghai has no plan as yet to collect garbage disposal fees from household users. I stress that there will be no fee for households at present. A fee will be imposed on home users only after the necessary procedures have been followed, including public hearings and government audits.

11. Oriental Morning Post: The municipal government plans to control the unemployment rate to within 4.6 percent. I'd like to know the current jobless rate. What will the government do to attain a low unemployment rate? Secondly, the city will extend Metro Line No.1 to the Boashan Distric. What will be the expected passenger flow increase after the extension?

Jiao Yang: I will answer your second question first. The passenger increase after the extension is uncertain. The government has created an emergency response plan and will observe and adjust the operation of Metro Line No.1 during its test runs. In answer to your first question, the government plans to control the registered unemployment rate to within 4.6 percent and we feel very hopeful that this goal will be achieved. We have reason to be optimistic. The local unemployment rate in 2003 was expected to be 5 percent and in the end it remained at 4.9 percent. The 2004 unemployment rate will be formally announced by the Shanghai Bureau of Statistics at the beginning of next year.