A rain-triggered mud-rock flow in north China's Shanxi Province caused the collapse of a warehouse holding waste ore dregs on Monday, killing one and trapping others, according to the local government.
The accident occurred around 8 a.m. in a warehouse of the Tashan Mine in Xiangfen County, Linfen City, which has been soaked by torrential rain.
One person was killed at the scene and another was injured.
A Xinhua reporter said more people were trapped underneath the structure but a specific figure was not immediately available.
A rescue team of more than 300 local police and villagers were searching through the rubble.
Source:Xinhua
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
All 60 members returned in Hong Kong's new-term legislature elections
The Electoral Affairs Commission announced in Hong Kong Monday morning that all the 60 members of the fourth term Legislative Council have been returned in the elections, which ended late Sunday night.
It took about 10 hours for polling staff to count more than 1.5million ballots and the Electoral Affairs Commission began publishing the official results from 5:30 a.m. local time Monday.
Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Justice Pang Kin-kee, said the commission has received about 2,024 complaints related to the elections, with which the commission was handling according to fixed procedures.
The 60 newly elected councilors, with 30 returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and another 30 by functional constituencies, will form the fourth term Legislative Council and start practicing their duty entrusted by the Basic Law during the coming four years in office from Oct. 1, 2008.
In the elections, a total of 142 candidates ran for 30 seats in five geographical constituencies under the proportional representation formula while another 45 competed for 16 seats in 16 contested functional constituencies. Fourteen candidates in 12 functional constituencies were returned uncontested.
The polls, beginning at 07:30 a.m. local time Sunday, lasted for 15 hours until 10:30 p.m. local time Sunday when most polling stations closed. The polling hours for two polling stations in Quarry Bay and Chai Wan were prolonged for 25 minutes and seven minutes as the elections at these two stations were interrupted for 25 and seven minutes respectively.
Altogether 532 polling stations across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories were open for more than 1.52 million voters to cast their ballots in the direct elections for geographical constituencies with a turnout rate of about 45.2 percent, down from 55.64 percent from the previous elections, according to the Electoral Affairs Commission.
Meanwhile, 127,000 voters cast their ballots in the elections of 16 contested functional constituencies, with a turnout rate of 60.3 percent, also down from 70.14 percent of the previous ones.
After visiting a ballot-counting station at Happy Valley late Sunday night, Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said the elections were as always proceeding in fair, open and just means.
"We look forward to working with the new term Legislative Council to face up the economic slowdown for Hong Kong people," he said.
Under the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong is vested with legislative power since its return to China in 1997 and the Legislative Council is the legislature of the HKSAR.
The main functions of the Legislative Council are to enact laws, examine and approve budgets, taxation and public expenditure, and monitor the work of the HKSAR government. In addition, the Legislative Council is also given the power to endorse the appointment and removal of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court, as well as the power to impeach the Chief Executive.
The elections of HKSAR's first term Legislative Council were held on May 24, 1998. There were 60 members of the first term Legislative Council from 1998 to 2000, with 30 members returned by functional constituencies, 20 by geographical constituencies through direct elections, and 10 by an election committee of 800 elected representatives of the community.
The elections for the second term Legislative Council of the HKSAR were held on Sept. 10, 2000, in which the second term LegCo was composed of 60 members, with 24 members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections, six members by an election committee, and 30 members by functional constituencies. The term of office of the second term Legislative Council was four years starting from Oct. 1, 2000.
The third term Legislative Council was elected on Sept. 12, 2004 when 30 members were returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and 30 members returned by functional constituencies.
Before Hong Kong's return to China in 1997, the members of HongKong's Legislative Council were appointed by the British Hong Kong authorities.
Source:Xinhua
It took about 10 hours for polling staff to count more than 1.5million ballots and the Electoral Affairs Commission began publishing the official results from 5:30 a.m. local time Monday.
Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Justice Pang Kin-kee, said the commission has received about 2,024 complaints related to the elections, with which the commission was handling according to fixed procedures.
The 60 newly elected councilors, with 30 returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and another 30 by functional constituencies, will form the fourth term Legislative Council and start practicing their duty entrusted by the Basic Law during the coming four years in office from Oct. 1, 2008.
In the elections, a total of 142 candidates ran for 30 seats in five geographical constituencies under the proportional representation formula while another 45 competed for 16 seats in 16 contested functional constituencies. Fourteen candidates in 12 functional constituencies were returned uncontested.
The polls, beginning at 07:30 a.m. local time Sunday, lasted for 15 hours until 10:30 p.m. local time Sunday when most polling stations closed. The polling hours for two polling stations in Quarry Bay and Chai Wan were prolonged for 25 minutes and seven minutes as the elections at these two stations were interrupted for 25 and seven minutes respectively.
Altogether 532 polling stations across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories were open for more than 1.52 million voters to cast their ballots in the direct elections for geographical constituencies with a turnout rate of about 45.2 percent, down from 55.64 percent from the previous elections, according to the Electoral Affairs Commission.
Meanwhile, 127,000 voters cast their ballots in the elections of 16 contested functional constituencies, with a turnout rate of 60.3 percent, also down from 70.14 percent of the previous ones.
After visiting a ballot-counting station at Happy Valley late Sunday night, Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said the elections were as always proceeding in fair, open and just means.
"We look forward to working with the new term Legislative Council to face up the economic slowdown for Hong Kong people," he said.
Under the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong is vested with legislative power since its return to China in 1997 and the Legislative Council is the legislature of the HKSAR.
The main functions of the Legislative Council are to enact laws, examine and approve budgets, taxation and public expenditure, and monitor the work of the HKSAR government. In addition, the Legislative Council is also given the power to endorse the appointment and removal of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court, as well as the power to impeach the Chief Executive.
The elections of HKSAR's first term Legislative Council were held on May 24, 1998. There were 60 members of the first term Legislative Council from 1998 to 2000, with 30 members returned by functional constituencies, 20 by geographical constituencies through direct elections, and 10 by an election committee of 800 elected representatives of the community.
The elections for the second term Legislative Council of the HKSAR were held on Sept. 10, 2000, in which the second term LegCo was composed of 60 members, with 24 members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections, six members by an election committee, and 30 members by functional constituencies. The term of office of the second term Legislative Council was four years starting from Oct. 1, 2000.
The third term Legislative Council was elected on Sept. 12, 2004 when 30 members were returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and 30 members returned by functional constituencies.
Before Hong Kong's return to China in 1997, the members of HongKong's Legislative Council were appointed by the British Hong Kong authorities.
Source:Xinhua
China seeks to enhance defense ties with Switzerland
Senior Chinese military official Guo Boxiong said on Monday that China would like to enhance defense and military cooperation with Switzerland.
Guo, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was speaking in a meeting with Swiss minister of defense, civil protection and sports Samuel Schmid, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics on Sept. 6.
Guo said cooperation between the two nations on economic, cultural and science issues had been fruitful, as had consultation on international affairs.
He said relations between the two armed forces have developed well, with frequent high-level visits and an annual defense dialogue, as well as substantial exchanges on defense mobilization and civil protection.
"We hope the two sides can expand consensus and deepen cooperation so to push forward bilateral ties."
Guo also wished the Swiss athletes success in the Paralympics.
Schmid congratulated China on a successful Beijing Olympics and wished for an equally extraordinary Paralympics.
He said the Swiss armed forces would endeavor to strengthen ties with China, which would benefit both sides and peace and stability.
Source:Xinhua
Guo, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was speaking in a meeting with Swiss minister of defense, civil protection and sports Samuel Schmid, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics on Sept. 6.
Guo said cooperation between the two nations on economic, cultural and science issues had been fruitful, as had consultation on international affairs.
He said relations between the two armed forces have developed well, with frequent high-level visits and an annual defense dialogue, as well as substantial exchanges on defense mobilization and civil protection.
"We hope the two sides can expand consensus and deepen cooperation so to push forward bilateral ties."
Guo also wished the Swiss athletes success in the Paralympics.
Schmid congratulated China on a successful Beijing Olympics and wished for an equally extraordinary Paralympics.
He said the Swiss armed forces would endeavor to strengthen ties with China, which would benefit both sides and peace and stability.
Source:Xinhua
Students in SW China quake-hit city begin school year in tents
More than 35,000 students in a city in southwest China's quake-hit Sichuan Province started the new semester in tents and makeshift classrooms on Monday, about one week after their peers nationwide began the new school year.
Altogether, 12,099 students resumed classes in tents while another 23,584 attended in undamaged or temporary classrooms converted from student sports and entertainment centers in Panzhihua, according to Kong Wei, the local education bureau head. The city was one of the worst hit in the Aug. 30 quake.
The 6.1-magnitude tremor had killed at least 38 people in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces as of Sept. 3.
"The earthquake has caused damages to 183 out of the 598 local schools, leaving above one-fifth of the city's students without safe classrooms before the new school year," Kong said.
The city requested tents after the earthquake and was immediately overwhelmed by the nation's donation enthusiasm.
In addition, China promised to provide more portable houses to ensure all students in the city could move out of tent classes before winter.
"In the seven days when we were left with nowhere to study, I read text books by myself," said Sun Yiwen, a grade nine student. He was among 750 students relocated to a nearby school for members of the Communist Party of China from the Datian Middle School where the quake had devastated almost all the buildings.
"I am confident in myself for the new semester because it is almost as convenient as where I used to study."
However, students in Huili County in neighboring Yunnan weren't as lucky.
The county, which has been plagued by continuous aftershocks, postponed the start of its new semester to the end of October for the lack of prefabricated buildings and tents to build temporary classes and dormitories.
In total, 58 affected schools required 150,000 square meters of prefab buildings and 140 tents, said Hu Kun, the county's Communist Party secretary.
The county initially postponed the openings to Monday after 20 percent of its school buildings were damaged.
The quake affected 153 of the 290 primary and middle schools in Huili, damaging 2,520 school houses and causing 140 million yuan in losses, according to the county education bureau.
Source:Xinhua
Altogether, 12,099 students resumed classes in tents while another 23,584 attended in undamaged or temporary classrooms converted from student sports and entertainment centers in Panzhihua, according to Kong Wei, the local education bureau head. The city was one of the worst hit in the Aug. 30 quake.
The 6.1-magnitude tremor had killed at least 38 people in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces as of Sept. 3.
"The earthquake has caused damages to 183 out of the 598 local schools, leaving above one-fifth of the city's students without safe classrooms before the new school year," Kong said.
The city requested tents after the earthquake and was immediately overwhelmed by the nation's donation enthusiasm.
In addition, China promised to provide more portable houses to ensure all students in the city could move out of tent classes before winter.
"In the seven days when we were left with nowhere to study, I read text books by myself," said Sun Yiwen, a grade nine student. He was among 750 students relocated to a nearby school for members of the Communist Party of China from the Datian Middle School where the quake had devastated almost all the buildings.
"I am confident in myself for the new semester because it is almost as convenient as where I used to study."
However, students in Huili County in neighboring Yunnan weren't as lucky.
The county, which has been plagued by continuous aftershocks, postponed the start of its new semester to the end of October for the lack of prefabricated buildings and tents to build temporary classes and dormitories.
In total, 58 affected schools required 150,000 square meters of prefab buildings and 140 tents, said Hu Kun, the county's Communist Party secretary.
The county initially postponed the openings to Monday after 20 percent of its school buildings were damaged.
The quake affected 153 of the 290 primary and middle schools in Huili, damaging 2,520 school houses and causing 140 million yuan in losses, according to the county education bureau.
Source:Xinhua
China's Vice President meets U.S. presidential delegation to Beijing Paralympics
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Monday met with the U.S. presidential delegation to the Beijing Paralympics, headed by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake.
Xi welcomed Peake, who said his first trip to Beijing was "an amazing experience" and Saturday's opening ceremony was "magnificent."
Xi thanked the U.S. government and people for their support of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, citing President George W. Bush's attendance at the Olympics' opening ceremony and the high-profile presidential delegation to the Paralympics.
Peake said, "It is very wonderful to be here to represent the U.S. President Bush and the United States of America."
Peake said many members of his delegation had attended several Paralympic games and won gold medals.
During their half-hour talks in downtown Beijing's Diaoyutai Guesthouse, Xi also extended condolences to the people affected last week by Hurrican Gustav in the southern United States.
Millions of people on the U.S. Gulf Coast fled before the arrival of Hurricane Gustav, which left many places without working power, water and sewage systems.
"I am convinced that the U.S. people will prevail over the hurricane and rebuild," Xi said.
Source:Xinhua
Xi welcomed Peake, who said his first trip to Beijing was "an amazing experience" and Saturday's opening ceremony was "magnificent."
Xi thanked the U.S. government and people for their support of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, citing President George W. Bush's attendance at the Olympics' opening ceremony and the high-profile presidential delegation to the Paralympics.
Peake said, "It is very wonderful to be here to represent the U.S. President Bush and the United States of America."
Peake said many members of his delegation had attended several Paralympic games and won gold medals.
During their half-hour talks in downtown Beijing's Diaoyutai Guesthouse, Xi also extended condolences to the people affected last week by Hurrican Gustav in the southern United States.
Millions of people on the U.S. Gulf Coast fled before the arrival of Hurricane Gustav, which left many places without working power, water and sewage systems.
"I am convinced that the U.S. people will prevail over the hurricane and rebuild," Xi said.
Source:Xinhua
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