Shenzhen's police authorities will take effective measures to
further improve public security and order in the city, a spokesman
of the municipal public security bureau said Thursday.
The bureau will launch a series of campaigns to crack down on
crime syndicates in the city, including those monopolizing some
business areas with the use of violence, said Yu Xingguo, the
spokesman of the bureau, at a press conference during the annual
session of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress, which opened
Wednesday and ends Sunday.
Leaders from Longgang and Bao'an districts and the municipal
urban management bureau also attended the press conference. They
jointly answered questions concerning public security, migrant
workers, urban management, grass-roots management, and development
plans in Longgang and Bao'an.
Public security
Besides organized crime, pickpockets on local buses will also be
targeted, Yu said. By the end of this year, most of the city's
buses and bus stations will be equipped with digital cameras.
Policemen will also be deployed on buses.
Some 2,600 new policemen will be added to the city's police
force by the end of this year, bringing the total number to 20,000,
according to Yu.
In Bao'an, where the crime rate is higher than in other
districts, more than 1 billion yuan (US$125 million) will be
invested in additional facilities and staff, according to Li
Wenlong, head of Bao'an district government.
“We have made many efforts to ensure good public security in
Bao'an and last year the crime rate in the district was down by 40
percent,” said Li.
Migrant workers
The governments of Longgang and Bao'an districts, which are home
to 8 million migrant workers, have worked out some measures to
improve the living and working conditions of the migrants.
The two districts plan to set up a complete insurance system to
cover medical treatment for workers.
Public dining halls will be built in industrial areas and
available to 90 percent of the workers by the end of the year.
Dapeng Peninsula
Dapeng Peninsula, located in Longgang, was selected last year as
one of the top 10 most beautiful coastlines in China by the
country's most authoritative tourist magazine, the Journal of
Chinese Geography. However, the area still remains economically
backward.
According to Yu Weiliang, head of the district government, the
peninsula will be built into a top-class tourist area with emphasis
on its coastal scenery.
Starting this year, the Longgang government will invite plans
and proposals for the area and seek strategic partners for
investment.
The government will also improve infrastructure in the area by
building more roads and tourist facilities.
Industrial structure
Even though it has a population of more than 5.8 million, or
almost half of the total population in Shenzhen, Bao'an contributed
only 20 percent of Shenzhen's revenue last year.
The imbalance is due to an unreasonable industrial structure
consisting of labor-intensive firms, said Li Wenlong.
This structure has led to a population with low education, which
causes many social problems, Li said.
Bao'an is going to adjust its industrial structure to gradually
decrease the proportion of labor-intensive enterprises.
The high-tech, cultural, tourism and logistics industries will
be given priorities in the district.
(Shenzhen Daily March 24, 2006)