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(Seven Days Archive)
2009-07-03- China's publicity head: China still facing "ideological struggle"
Liu Yunshan, Director of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has warned that China will continue to face long-term pressure from the West, with its superiority in the areas of economic affairs, technology and cultural transmission. The struggle over ideology remains complex and intense and China will face new challenges in its efforts to protect the country's ideological and cultural integrity. Beijing correspondent Yap Pheng Hui reports.
- Calls for officials to declare assets becoming louder in Guangdong
Several senior government officials in Guangdong province have come under investigations over the past few months over suspicions of graft. These incidents have caused the public to step up calls for the introduction of a pilot programme where officials are required to declare their assets. Lianhe Zaobao's Guangdong correspondent Yeo Yong Herng reports.
- MM Lee meets Ban Ki Moon: Singapore supports UN efforts on Myanmar
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arrived in Singapore yesterday for a two-day working visit prior to his visit to Myanmar. In a meeting with PM Lee, both sides discussed current challenges facing the international community. PM Lee also reiterated Singapore's support for UN efforts in Myanmar and the importance of continuing to engage the country.
- Pandemic Preparedness Clinics begin operations
More than 500 Pandemic Preparedness Clinics were in operation yesterday. Those suffering from mild flu symptoms no longer need to call 993 for an ambulance but can wear a mask and visit the nearest such clinic to be diagnosed.
- Regulations on use of RMB for cross-border trade settlements announced
Regulations for a pilot programme allowing the use of RMB for cross-border trade settlements have been announced by the People's Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance. Lianhe Zaobao's Hong Kong correspondent Yip Yui Man reports.
- China exploring new measures to draw foreign investment
China saw a fall in foreign direct investments (FDI) in the first half of the year but this was in an environment where investments were falling across the globe. Judging from the figures, China's FDI ratio has not fallen and the country remains the top choice for global investors.
- STI closes 1.4% lower on cautious trading; Analysts: Economy basically still soft
The US announced middling results overnight with the ADP employment report for June coming in lower than expected. This has resulted in investor concerns over the non-agricultural jobs figures that are due to be announced soon. The local stock market closed 1.4% lower yesterday on the back of cautious trading.
- HSBC: Stock market expected to plummet in Jul/Aug; may be last chance to bottom fish
HSBC's private banking managing director Arjuna Mahendran does not believe that Japan or Europe can lead the global recovery. Asian countries not only depend on export markets but because most do not have the welfare systems of Europe and the US, their citizens will continue to spend cautiously. Therefore, a consumer-led economic recovery is also unlikely.
- Setting up of casinos will benefit all
Xu Weigang pens this commentary on how the setting up of casinos in Singapore will spur the development of SMEs and provide a strong foundation for the long-term development of the tourism and services sectors. It will also enhance Singapore's ties with other major countries in the region.
- Malaysian policy changes unavoidable
[Editorial] Malaysian PM Najib Razak recently removed existing race-based policies in the areas of of public service scholarships and business ownership. Such efforts will need to be undertaken carefully to allay the concerns of his party members and supporters. The implementation of these reforms will be the greatest test of his political acumen and courage.
- Lee Myung-bak's "5-party dialogue" proposal collapses
The Chosun Ilbo reported on its website on June 26 that the "Five-party dialogue" proposal made by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has collapsed as it has failed to win the support of China. This commentary by retired journalist Huang Binhua looks at how South Korea can boost exchanges with China in order to win its backing in resolving the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula.
2009-07-02- Rise of netizens in China a "double-edge sword"
The significant role played by Chinese netizens in the case of Deng Yujiao, a karaoke bar waitress who was found not guilty of fatally stabbing an official to fend off a sex attack recently, serves to illustrate the rising influence of the online public in the country. However, Chinese authorities are also taking steps to prevent netizens from becoming overly critical of the government, which could in turn affect social stability.
- Groups with "a variety of agendas" march in Hong Kong to mark anniversary of handover
Tens of thousands of people rallied in Hong Kong to mark the city's 12th anniversary of its handover to Mainland China yesterday. As many as seven groups of demonstrators with a variety of agendas gathered on the streets in an attempt to make their voices heard. Lianhe Zaobao's Hong Kong correspondent Yip Yui Man reports.
- Enforcement agencies ready to deal with opening of casinos
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will be setting up a Casino Investigation Branch to be responsible for investigation of crimes involving casinos such as counterfeit chips and offences affecting the integrity of the casino games.
- Improving the system for local humanitarian relief
The SingHealth Humanitarian Relief Programme (SHRP) was set up yesterday to improve the local system of humanitarian relief and provide long-term sustainable medical assistance. Singapore has been at the forefront of providing such aid when natural disasters strike other countries in our region.
- Calls for democracy get louder within the CPC
Calls for an open discussion on democracy by party insiders during the anniversary of the Communist Party of China on 1 July has been seen by observers as a sign of the desire for democracy that has progressively become stronger within China. Lianhe Zaobao's Beijing correspondent Han Yong Hong reports.
- Taiwan eases currency restrictions as Mainland investments increase
As more investments from Mainland China enter Taiwan, Taiwanese authorities have begun easing restrictions on cross-strait currency exchange. All fifteen provisions governing the transfer of funds between Mainland China and Taiwan have been removed.
- $2.1bn joint venture project in Tianjin Eco-City
China's largest foreign-invested developer Shimao Property Holdings will be entering into a joint venture with the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co (SSTEC) involving an integrated development project that will be the largest development to date for the Tianjin Eco-City. The $2.1 billion project will take up approximately 1.8 million square metres of which one million will be residential and 800,000 will be greenery. The project will provide housing for around 10,000 residents and is slated for completion by 2014.
- MasterCard survey shows Singaporeans will maintain or increase savings levels
Uncertain about how long the economic crisis will last, most Singaporeans are planning to maintain or increase the amount of their savings, according to a twice-yearly Consumer Purchasing Priorities survey conducted by MasterCard.
- 150 years imprisonment still better than death penalty for disgraced financier Bernard Madoff
Bernard Madoff, the mastermind behind the biggest financial fraud in history has been sentenced to 150 years in prison by a US federal court on June 29. This commentary by Beijing-based freelance writer Zhang Tiankan examines the difference between life imprisonment and the death penalty from the perspective of the Madoff case.
- What China can learn from the "Green Dam" incident
[Editorial] The Chinese government announced at the last minute a postponement in implementing the mandatory requirement for all PCs sold in China to be installed with the "Green Dam" internet filtering software. As China's international status and influence continue to grow, the country should refrain from flip-flopping on policies in order to protect its reputation.
- When Twitter comes knocking
Twitter, an innovative social networking and micro-blogging service, has become an important force shaping the face of politics in the US barely three years following its debut. This commentary by Cha Wen, a Chinese media professional, examines how countries and politicians can embrace this new internet phenomenon in order to boost their presence internationally.
2009-07-01- China delays implementation of "Green Dam"
The Chinese government announced last night that it is delaying the mandatory requirement for all PCs sold in China to be installed with the "Green Dam" web filtering software. The policy was originally scheduled to come into effect starting from 1 July. Lianhe Zaobao's Beijing correspondent Han Yong Hong reports.
- HK Disneyland to build 3 new themed attractions; HK government's stake in park to shrink to 52%
Walt Disney Co and the Hong Kong government have agreed to expand the Disneyland theme park in Hong Kong to include three more themed attractions. Under the new deal, the Hong Kong government will retain its status as the majority shareholder in the park but will see its stake shrink from 57% to 52% as a result of the injection of new funds. Lianhe Zaobao's Hong Kong correspondent Yip Yui Man reports.
- Government to take over development of LNG terminal
The Energy Markets Authority will set up the Singapore Energy Corporation to take over the development of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal that was originally assigned to PowerGas. This is to ensure that the energy infrastructure will not be delayed because of financial difficulties faced by the company.
- Pasture Pharma develops new N95 masks
Singapore company Pasture Pharma has launched new protective masks which are more breathable than existing ones and can filter out more than 95% of micro-organisms. Approved by the FDA at the beginning of this year, the masks were first used in Mexico when the H1N1 virus hit the country.
- Taiwan opens doors to investments from China
Taiwan's Executive Yuan announced the rules for Mainland investment in Taiwan yesterday. Under the new rules, Mainland Chinese companies will be allowed to invest in 100 categories of businesses in the manufacturing, services and public construction sectors.
- DBS Vickers: Mainland banks in HK will benefit from new rule to use RMB to settle accounts
DBS Vickers said in a research report that domestic banks (Mainland Chinese banks in Hong Kong) will benefit from the new rule on the use of RMB to settle accounts. Meanwhile, PricewaterhouseCoopers found in its survey that most foreign banks feel that their expansion plans in China have been affected as China's regulatory agencies become more cautious in the wake of the financial crisis. Lianhe Zaobao's Hong Kong correspondent Yip Yui Man reports.
- Frasers Centrepoint Homes to launch more "dual key" units
Frasers Centrepoint Homes' recent launch of the "dual key" concept, where an apartment is partitioned into two separate units, has been welcomed by buyers with adult children or those intending to rent out their units. In view of the overwhelming response, the company will be launching more of such projects.
- Frasers Commercial Trust to raise $214m through rights issue
Frasers Commercial Trust announced yesterday that it plans to raise $213.9 million via a 3-for-1 rights issue. It is also issuing convertible perpetual preferred units to acquire Alexandra Technopark from Frasers Centrepoint.
- For what reason did MM Lee carry out his trip to Malaysia?
Veteran educator Wang Yongbing pens this commentary on MM Lee's recent trip to Malaysia, where he clarified "historical issues" and met with opposition leaders, setting the stage for better relations in the future.
- How Singapore can attract overseas students back to the country?
Countries like South Korea, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have seen a "reverse brain drain" in recent years. Professor Phua Kok Khoo, director of NTU's Institute of Advanced Studies, looks at what Singapore can do to ensure that its top students studying overseas return after graduation.
- The first test for Iraq's military police
[Editorial] American troops in the provinces in Iraq withdrew to their bases yesterday in the first phase of the planned US withdrawal which is expected to occur by 2011. With the gradual transfer of responsibility for the country back to the Iraqis, it remains to be seen whether they can rebuild their country and prevent it from becoming a base for global terrorism.
2009-06-30- China launches innovative new measures to support Hong Kong and Macau
The Mainland Chinese government recently launched a series of measures designed to help Hong Kong and Macau. These include the signing of a memorandum allowing Mainland-Hong Kong cross-border trade to be settled in yuan, the leasing of 1.1 square kilometres of Hengqin Island to Macau as the new site for the University of Macau and the move to allow Mainland investors to invest directly in Hong Kong shares. However, there is a degree of uncertainty involved in each of these measures
- False rumours spark riot at toy factory in Guangdong, perpetrator arrested
A brawl on 25 June between a group of Uighur workers and Han Chinese workers at the Xuri Toy Factory in Shaoguan, Guangdong left 120 people injured and 2 dead. The police have arrested a former worker at the factory who was suspected to have spread false rumours online that sparked the riot. Meanwhile, some China netizens have blasted the authorities for showing favouritism for minority ethnic groups in this incident.
- Retail investors can bid for Singapore government securities from tomorrow
Starting from tomorrow, retail investors will be able to bid for Singapore Government Securities (SGS) and short term Treasury bills (T-bills) through ATM machines provided they have at least $1,000 in their Central Depository (CDP) accounts. SM Goh Chok Tong announced this at the 36th annual dinner of the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) last Friday.
- Singapore hosts inaugural Healthcare Travel Exhibition and Congress
The inaugural Healthcare Travel Exhibition and Congress opened in Singapore yesterday with participants from nearly 30 local and overseas companies. Growing at an annual rate of 15% to 20%, the medical tourism industry is expected to hit USD100 billion by 2012, with USD4.4 billion of that in Asia.
- 50 new companies expected to list on China A-share market in next 6 months
In view of the high liquidity and investment demand in the Chinese market, PricewaterhouseCoopers expects to see 50 new companies list on the A-share market over the next half year. Among them, around 45 may go public on the SME board in Shenzhen while the rest may list in Shanghai.
- Beijing's high-end hotels see big dip in occupancy rates
Luxury and high-end hotels in Beijing have been dealt a double blow by the economic crisis and H1N1 flu, causing a big dip in their occupancy levels. The average occupancy rate for star-rated hotels in the city was only 44.5% in the first quarter, down from 54.6% a year ago.
- Van der Horst Energy sets up joint venture in China
Van der Horst Energy's subsidiary company Shenyang China Starzyme (SCS) has set up a joint venture with Italian company Millbo to develop bread and flour enzymes for sale and distribution in the Chinese market. The joint venture will have an initial share capital of USD560,000, with 60% owned by SCS and 40% by Millbo.
- COSCO completes world's first ultra deepwater oil rig
COSCO Group's subsidiary Nantong Shipyard has completed the building of the world's most advanced ultra deepwater drilling rig for Norwegian company Sevan Marine. The cylinder-shaped Sevan Driller will go into full operation soon. Su Rong reports from Shanghai.
- Outflow of talent a cause for concern
[Editorial] 180,000 Singaporeans are working and living overseas currently and this number is expected to grow in the coming years. Other than fostering a sense of national identity and inculcating the value of "remembering one's roots", the government also needs to continue to review the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of Singapore to not just retain Singaporeans but also draw those who are overseas back.
- How can China-US military cooperation be more constructive?
Phoenix TV commentator Qiu Zhenhai pens this piece on how China and the US can adopt a rational and pragmatic approach to navigate the increasingly complex military relationship between the two nations.
2009-06-29- Shanghai building collapses; buyers of 3 other buildings seeking refund
A 13-storey residential block in Shanghai that had just finished construction collapsed on its side a few days ago. Sources say that close to 400 buyers of three other buildings that are visibly leaning have applied for their payments to be refunded.
- China readies itself to protect sovereignty in South China Sea
To protect its sovereignty in the South China Sea area, Mainland China has recently engaged itself in various strategic manoeuvres. The Chinese military has carried out a series of navy and air force joint exercises there while the National People's Congress is moving to set up relevant legislation. The government media has also been reporting on the sovereignty issue in the region. Lianhe Zaobao's Yap Pheng Hui reports from Beijing.
- Online "skills exchange" becoming trend among Chinese white-collar workers
In the midst of the economic crisis, white-collar workers in Mainland China have been seeking ways to upgrade their skills in a more cost-effective and flexible manner. Many of them have been visiting "skills exchange" websites that allow users to teach others different skills, such as mastering a different language. A new term - "Jike" - has been coined to describe such people.
- Businesses hope Purvis Street will become pedestrian mall soon
Under the Singapore Masterplan 2008, Purvis Street and Tan Quee Lan Street are to be developed into pedestrian malls. However, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has no intention to implement this in the near term. Businesses in the area interviewed said they hope the plan can be implemented as soon as possible so as to inject new life in the area.
- Singapore draws top global companies to turn country into water technology hub
Having resolved its water supply problem, Singapore is now gradually shifting its focus to becoming a water technology hub. In the recently concluded second Singapore International Water Week, five of the world's top water technology companies have announced the establishment of research centres here. The research objectives of four of these centres are related to reducing energy consumption in water treatment.
- China to speed up development of TCM sector over the next decade
China's National Center for Biotechnology Development said that the country will be accelerating the modernisation and development of its traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sector over the next decade to form a RMB400 billion ($8.5 billion) industry.
- Two private Chinese companies to bid for stake in Pierre Cardin
The European media has reported that two private companies from China are in talks with famous French attire maker Pierre Cardin to acquire a 200 million-euro ($400 million) stake in the company.
- Can the recent S-chip rally continue?
In its review of the performance and prospects of 17 Singapore-listed China company (S-chip) shares, DBS Vickers pointed out that prices for some of these counters have risen, with Yanlord Land and China Sports International showing the biggest increase. This could be due to recent improvements in their respective industries. However, some analysts also said that if the market declines, prices of such stocks will inevitably fall as well.
- EDB provides scholarships worth $16m to train 150 IC designers
To attract more companies to engage in integrated circuit (IC) research and development, the Economic Development Board (EDB) is offering scholarships worth $16 million to train 150 IC design experts over the next five years. The scheme encourages electronics and computer engineering graduates to pursue master's and doctorate programmes at NUS and NTU.
- Building a memorial to foreign workers
Huang Shuren writes in to remind Singaporeans about the contributions made by foreign workers over the past decades. He suggests building a memorial to their efforts in the Marina-City Centre area and proposes that the government, community and business organisations jointly set up an agency to take care of foreign worker welfare and interests.
- Challenges and opportunities for the financial industry
[Editorial] SM Goh expressed optimism at the prospects of our financial sector at an industry event last week. There is indeed cause to be hopeful with Singapore being located in the heart of a fast-growing Asia, with a burgeoning demand for services such as infrastructure financing, financial planning and life and health insurance.
- How does Japanese mainstream society perceive the movie City of Life and Death?
Sun Xiaoming, a graduate student at Ryukoku University, pens this commentary on how the Japanese mainstream media is reacting to the Chinese war movie City of Life and Death (also known as Nanjing! Nanjing!).
2009-06-28- Racial conflict at Guangdong factory leads to 2 dead and 120 injured
Postings on online forums allege that a toy factory had hired large numbers of Xinjiang workers who committed numerous thefts and three instances of rapes at their workplace. This led to fights with the local Chinese causing 120 injuries and two deaths.
- Hainan tour company organising "alternative" tours
Tour companies offering tours that are "out of the ordinary" have sprouted on the Chinese internet. One of the first to start the trend is a company in Hainan that offers tours where a customer gets to "steal" sugarcane from a vendor's cart.
- Lim Hwee Hua: Employers should change attitude to take in more women for part-time work
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua said that the government can take a pro-active position in setting up a framework for part-time workers. Many women contribute to the economy through working part-time in addition to taking care of their families.
- CDAC and NUS to cooperate to encourage outstanding students from poor families to enter R&D sector
The Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) and the NUS Faculty of Science has jointly introduced a new scheme called the CDAC-NUS Science In3 (In-Cube) programme that helps students from low-income families get more exposure and inculcate in them and interest in R&D.
- Is this the right time to buy club memberships?
Lianhe Zaobao looks at whether this is the right time to invest in country-club and social club memberships.
- From tailor to real estate developer: Knowing how to grasp opportunities
Lianhe Zaobao features Second Chance Properties founder Mohamed Salleh Marican, who managed to rise from running a tailor shop to become a significant property player.
- Farewell, and the start of another journey
Sunday columnist Chong Wing Hong bids farewell after 15 years. He expresses optimism for the future development of arts and culture in Singapore and believes that the government will grant more opportunities for practitioners in the coming years.
- Secular humanism is a more workable approach
In this commentary, freelance writer Ng How Wee writes about how secular humanism is the best approach to ensure harmony between different religions and races and to guarantee that the interests of all parties are protected.
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