News in review Monday____August 29

China's new film law stresses celebrity ethics

China's top legislature reviewed a draft film law with a key focus on making sure that people working in the film industry maintain professional ethics.

The bill was submitted for a second reading to the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

According to the draft, people working in the film industry should strive for "excellence in both professional skills and moral integrity," and build a positive public image.

The past few years have seen a string of high-profile arrests of film celebrities involved in drug abuse and prostitution.

The revised version states that films shall not contain content inciting terrorism and extremism and that all films shall be reviewed by at least three experts designated by the government. (Photo 1)

New draft ecological tax aims to cut emissions

China's first draft environmental protection tax law, which is expected to cut pollutant emissions, has been submitted to the country's top legislative body.

It is aimed at protecting the environment and improving ecological construction by promoting energy conservation and reducing emissions, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei told the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The draft calls for taxes to be placed on individuals or companies that pollute the air, water or soil, or emit noise pollution. Companies that successfully reduce their level of pollutants emission will be subject to reduced levels of tax.

Companies directly discharging pollutants - especially those in major polluting industries such as thermal power, iron and steel, cement, coal, electrolytic chemical engineering, pharmaceutical and textiles - will be subject to a new tax.

If the first reading and following reviews go well, it could become law by the end of the year, according to the Economic Information Daily. (Photo 2)

Tuesday____August 30

Women's financial power increasing: Report

Chinese women's financial power is growing with nearly 60 percent controlling and managing the family finances, a report said.

The 2016 Women Financial Management Report examining women's consumption, asset size and financing preferences is based on 10,000 valid questionnaires.

The report gives a portrait of a typical woman in charge of her finances: 25-35 years old, financially independent, living in first-tier cities or coastal cities in southeast China.

The report shows that the more women earn, the larger a say she has in the family's financial management.

Manufacturing innovation centers to be built

China will set up around 40 national manufacturing innovation centers by 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said.

The centers will be devoted to information technology, intelligent manufacturing, new materials and biomedicine. Around 15 will be established by 2020.

The MIIT has promised to improve the intellectual property management system to promote cooperation and profit sharing between centers.

To build a better manufacturing sector, China came up with the "Made in China 2025" plan last year, to shift the country away from low-end manufacturing to more value-added production.

China's value-added industrial output grew 6.1 percent in 2015, lower than the 8.3-percent growth in 2014. Manufacturing output expanded 7 percent, 2.4 percentage points lower than the previous year. (Photo 3)

Wednesday____August 31

Beijing, Shanghai ban electric scooters from roads

China's top two cities have banned electric scooters from roads amid safety concerns, despite the growing popularity of the new modes of transportation, for which there are no national safety standards.

Beijing's traffic authorities said that, starting on Monday, people riding electric scooters on public roads will be fined $1.50 and told to stay off the road. The ban applies to one- and two-wheeled self-balancing scooters as well.

The announcement was made after traffic police in Shanghai launched a campaign to get electric scooters off public roads, with police officers stopping riders because the scooters endangered traffic safety.

Authorities in Guangzhou, China's third-largest city, are also considering a ban on electric scooters, according to media reports. (Photo 4)

Beijing dealing with baby boom this year

China's second child policy, announced this year, has led to a baby boom with the capital Beijing expecting another 300,000 new-born babies by the end of 2016.

A direct consequence of the policy is a sharp increase in pregnant mothers queuing up at hospitals, which is causing hospitals to run short of 'record slots'.

In China, 'setting record' is the main procedure for admitting pregnant women, which is a method obstetrics departments use to evaluate their medical resources in order to decide how many pregnant women they can admit. 'Setting record' is thus a guarantee of available beds for prenatal exams and delivery. (Photo 5)

Thursday____September 1

Courts to issue English version of verdicts

An English-language version of a website operated by China's top court will make it easier for foreigners to learn how the country's courts make judgments.

It will also provide them with information about related judicial documents.

"We need to introduce the verdict website in English, as disputes involving foreign litigants are rising rapidly, and to assist in the preparation of related work," said Li Liang, director of the Trial Management Department at the Supreme People's Court.

Although verdicts must be written in Chinese to comply with the law, "We'd like to provide foreigners with a better guide in English on the website if they need to search for verdicts and related judicial documents," Li said.

Since July 2013, the Chinese version has attracted more than 2 billion visits, including 500 million from overseas, and has published more than 20 million verdicts, according to the top court.

Charity Law goes into effect

China's Charity Law, passed by national lawmakers in March, took effect on Thursday in a move to ease restrictions on the fundraising and operational activities of charity groups.

The law also includes strict regulations to prevent fraud and impose tighter supervision on the management of charity groups.

China had about 670,000 registered social organizations as of the end of June, including 5,038 foundations, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

By the end of 2015, registered social organizations had received $9.12 billion in donations.

The law also promises tax benefits to encourage more enterprises and wealthy people to donate to charity projects.

Friday____August 26

EV startups face wipeout by new rules

China's electric-vehicle industry, with 200-plus companies backed by a raft of billionaires, verges on a massive shakeout as the government imposes stricter technology standards on fledgling manufacturers and considers limiting their number to only 10.

Any curbs would be aimed at weeding out the weak, said a senior executive with the State-backed auto manufacturers' association, and they may push as many as 90 percent of EV startups toward extinction, a government-linked newspaper said.

Beijing calls for family leave to show filial piety

Employers in Beijing are being encouraged to give staff more time off to visit their elderly relatives as the government aims to build a senior-friendly city.

According to a plan passed by Beijing policymakers recently on improving seniors' lives in the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), vacation time would be given to visit elderly family members on their birthdays or on Chongyang Festival, a festival for senior citizens, or when senior relatives are in need of rehabilitative service or terminal care.

The plan did not specify how to calculate salary during the leave.

According to a regulation issued by the State Council in 1981, employees of government departments or public institutions are entitled to a 24-day family leave every four years if they do not live in the same place with their spouse or parents. An employee who takes the family leave can still receive their basic wage, but their performance pay will be affected.

Half the senior population in China, more than 100 million people, are empty nesters aged 60 or older whose children have left home, government figures show.

(China Daily 09/02/2016 page15)