Shop lights to stay on for 24 hours
PEOPLE living in Shanghai will see a brighter city this year. The city government has listed 24-hour illuminated shop-windows as an important business project this year.
Paltry care puts old trees under threat
ANCIENT local trees are not growing well because of lack of care.
Visa-free plan to benefit many travellers
IN the past two months over 100 foreigners have benefited from a new policy which enables overseas tourists travelling via Shanghai's two airports to stay visa-free in China for 24 to 48 hours, according to a municipal spokesman at a news briefing yesterday.
Taxi driver who robbed women under arrest
A TAXI driver and his accomplice who police say terrorized women passengers by robbing them at knife point in a taxicab are now under arrest.
Big bucks on-line
MULTI-MILLION dollar investment by China Telecom this year to further improve its infrastructure facilities for Internet-related business will make it faster and easier for Internet surfers and e-business transactions here.
Now dial '110' to complain
By Wan Lixin
FROM this Wednesday residents who have complaints to lodge against police can air their discontent by dialling "110," according to police. Previously the line was restricted to callers who needed to report emergencies calling for immediate police help. The move was taken in response to a similar move on a national scale announced recently by the Ministry of Public Security. It comes at a time when there is growing concern about rogue cops who bend laws to line their pockets or use their power to abuse law-abiding citizens. The hotline had already received 61 complaints by Monday, according to police. A Shanghai police spokesman said on an ordinary day the "110" hotline received over 4,000 calls. The new service will undoubtedly make the existing lines even busier. "While on average one minute will be needed to handle an emergency call, a complaint against police misconduct will take much more time," the spokesman said. In order not to affect emergency calls, the police said the callers should report only those incidents which need immediate police attention. Complaints of another nature will be relayed to hotlines specializing in handling such complaints. Callers can make complaints mainly relating to the following circumstances: First, the police's failure to take any action against a crime that is in progress. Second, disputes between the police and residents. Third, other law enforcement abuses on the part of the police that are happening at the time. The police have said that feedback will be sent to the complainant within three days after the complaint is lodged. Police, however, are worried "110" is being increasingly abused. One couple realized their son was missing while they were busy playing mah-jongg. Instead of looking for him themselves, they called in the police on "110" to find their son so they could continue the game.
Copyright 2000 by Shanghai Star. All rights reserved.