1. Shanghai Television Station: I’m from Shanghai Television Station. I’ve two questions. The first question is for Mr Yu of the Shanghai Sports Bureau. You talked about the torch relay in Shanghai on May 20 and May 21. How will you ensure the security of the relay and what emergency plan have you adopted? The second question is for Mr Zhang from the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau. You talked about the adjustment of the low-pension standard. And when will the adjustment take effect? Thank you!

Yu Chen: To ensure a smooth torch relay in Shanghai, the city began to work on security plans last year, and the security plans have taken shape. Given the Tibet incidence that disputed social stability earlier this month, we will further study and improve the plans to ensure security at the torch relay. The city has hosted many torch relays, but this time, it will exceed the previous ones both in scale and standard, so we will treat it with great caution to ensure success.
Zhang Zheren: You asked about the time for enforcing the new low-pension standard. As I said just now, the new standard will go into force on April 1. Thank you.
2. Shanghai Television Station: I’m from Shanghai Television Station. I’ve two questions for Mr Yu Chen. As we know 416 people have been selected as torchbearers, why did you say that only 287 will be the torchbearers? The other question: Could you tell us the route for the torch relay? Thank you!
Yu Chen: About the first question, I already said in the press release that the applicants must be recommended, selected and then approved. The name list I released has been approved by the Organizing Committee of the Beijing Olympics, and the rest are still pending approval. About the second question, the route has been submitted for approval, and we cannot announce it as it hasn’t got the go-ahead and may change any time any place. Thank you.

3. Shanghai Morning Post: I’m from Shanghai Morning Post. I’ve a question for Mr Zheng, director of the medical insurance bureau. A legislator has put forward a written suggestion earlier this year that the average salary, which is pegged to the medical insurance system, should be updated to reflect the changes in workers’wages as the current medical insurance system still refers to the 2003 wage level. What is your response to the suggestion? Thank you!

Zheng Shuzhong: The revision of the medical insurance system has been submitted to the city government, which is assessing it, and the result will be released to media in the near future.

4. Youth Daily: Mr Bao Danru, of the Labor and Social Security Bureau, could you tell us how many employees the adjustment of the minimum wage will benefit? Mr Zhang, considering the ever-rising commodities prices, will there be other measures in addition to the adjustment of the minimum wages to help those needy citizens? Also, the city congress has adopted the Revisions of Shanghai Measures on the Implementation of the“State Council Decision on Establishing A Basic Medical Insurance System for Urban Employees.”How will the revisions affect those employees that have yet to retire and are included in the cooperation insurance system? And will their medical insurance account and welfare be treated the same as other employees after they retire? Thank you.

Bao Danru: The number of employees that will benefit from the adjustment is a volatile figure. The reason is that the structure of the employees in a company is very complicated while the minimum wage is an all-inclusive system involving both local employees covered by the urban insurance, township insurance and rural insurance programs and migrant workers who join the city’s comprehensive insurance program. The number of migrant workers is every-changing. We don’t intend the revisions to cover the maximum number of beneficiaries but to make sure the policies are properly implemented by setting up an inspection mechanism backed by tip-offs and complaints. For example, an employee can report if his or her actual income is below the government-stipulated minimum wage, and the employees have easy access to complaints channels such as the 12333 hotline. After receiving a tip-off, our supervision team will check. If a violation is confirmed, the violator is sure to be punished.
Zhang Zheren: We are keeping a close eye on the price fluctuations in an effort to ensure the rising prices don’t affect the needy citizens’basic life. The city came up with a series of measures since last year to ensure the needy citizens’basic life. For example, we raised the low pension standards for urban and rural residents. Last August, we lifted the monthly low-pension standard for urban citizens from 320 yuan per person to 350 yuan per person, and annual low-pension standard for rural residents from 2,560 yuan per person to 2,800 yuan per person. Secondly, last year we began to offer provisional allowance for low-pension families, namely, 10 yuan per person a month from October to December and 15 yuan per person a month from January to March this year. Thirdly, we raised the grain and oil subsidy from the previous 40 yuan to 45 yuan for the extremely needy group of the low-pension households. In addition, our provisional subsidy to the needy during the past New Year’s Day and Spring Festival also got a big boost, up 50 percent over 2007.
The growth rate of the low-pension standard, at 14.2 percent, for urban and rural residents this year is the highest ever over the past years, and is believed enough to cancel off the impact of price increases on needy families. There are also other help-the-needy measures that are unrelated to price rises: such as improving the medical relief policies and adopting educational aid and employment subsidy policies. Thank you!
Zheng Shuzhong: Number one, I’ve already said the revision is in the process of approval, and the result will be announced in the near future.
Number two, the medical insurance welfare treatment for those unretired employees covered by the cooperation insurance system is hinged on the revision of the medical insurance system, because the revision will change the sum of fund the employers pay into the personal account.
Number three, I already said in the press release that the unretired employees covered by the cooperation insurance system will be treated the same as the other retirees in terms of medical insurance benefits after they retire.

5. China Business News: I’m from China Business News. The policies on citizens’life mentioned just now do not cover housing problems. I have two questions about housing. First, the Housing and Urban and Rural Construction Minister yesterday said the housing rises over the past two years were abnormal. What does the city think of this remark and what economic measures will the city take? Second, when will the city publish its standards on budget homes, and could you tell us what the standards will probably be like? Thank you!
Chen Qiwei: I don’t think it is proper for me to comment on the remark by the ministry official. As to the second question, the standards are being drafted, and once the policy is adopted, media will be notified.

6. Phoenix TV: I’m from Phoenix TV. I’ve two questions for the spokesman. First, a shortage of diesel is apparently hitting Shanghai as many drivers said they find it hard to get a refill. But a news report said Shanghai has an adequate stockpile as well as back-up measures. What’s your response to this problem? Second, will the city come up with specific measures on banning smoking during the World Expo?
Chen Qiwei: There have been many news reports on the diesel supply, and the spokesman for the city economic commission has made explanations on the issue. Judging from the current situation, the diesel supply in Shanghai is quite stable. About the second question, I’ve also read many reports on the smoke ban, and I also hope a smoke ban is in place, but I have no information on how the city is going with such law making or whether there is such law making. If you’re interested in the issue, you can contact the spokesman team later.

7. China Times: I’m from China Times. As I know, there is a 45% cut in the wages of the city’s civil servants. What will the standard of the local civil servants be like?
Chen Qiwei: Shanghai is actively implementing the state regulations to regulate the subsidies and allowances of civil servants, involving both rises and cuts, so it is not so proper to speak generally of it as wage cut.

8. ICS: I’m from ICS. I’ve a question for Mr Yu. You said just now that some expatriates will join the torch relay in Shanghai. Could you tell me the exact number of such torchbearers and their names?
Yu Chen: The name list is only partly released. I’ll see to it that my office will forward you the released names (you can see details on eastday.com).

9. AFP: I’m from AFP. I’ve a question for Mr Yu. You said the city will further bolster the already finished security plans, citing the special situation in Tibet. Could you specify on that, like whether more security forces will be mobilized, and can you guarantee that no incidence will happen during the torch relay in Shanghai?
Yu Chen: We’re still working on the security plans, so it is not convenient to release it now. As to the guarantee that no incidence will happen in
Shanghai, I think what we can do is try our best to ensure no incidence will happen.

10. Wen Wei Pao: I’m from Wen Wei Pao. I’ve a question for Mr Bao Danru. Shanghai is innovative in working out a township insurance policy to protect the rights of residents in small towns. However, the former director of the social security bureau was charged with abusing his right in managing the township insurance funds. Mayor Han Zheng earlier said the lost social security funds had been recovered. I’d like to know whether the city has put more money into the current pool of 158 million yuan worth of township insurance funds. Also, is there a rule on the management of the investment profits from the township insurance funds. The practice of managing the social security fund seems to be the only example to follow at present, that’s to say, to buy treasury bonds and deposit as investment channels. Could you tell me whether the city plans to work on regulations on managing the township insurance fund and what the major investment channels for the fund are? Thank you!
Bao Danru: Our township insurance fund is safe as it is already secured in a special account of the treasury fund. The X section of the township insurance fund, or the supplementary insurance fund, has been recollected at the due date. For the rules on management of the fund, number one, a large amount of fund is allowed to join the operation to protect the interests of the citizens; number two, safety must go before inflation proof and appreciation when operating the fund, as required by the central government regulations.
Wen Wei Pao: What are the current major investment channels?
Bao Danru: As stipulated by the state, we put it into bank deposits and buy treasury bonds. The state is working on programs to put the fund into personal account investment, and Shanghai will implement the state policy according to the local situation.

11. Labor Daily: I’m Labor Daily. I’ve a question for Mr Yu Chen. The Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee said earlier that it would suspend torch relays in provinces when the flame is carried onto Mt Qomolangma in May. As the torch relay in Shanghai is scheduled for May, most probably coinciding with the Qomolangma date, does the city have any backup plans?
Yu Chen: We’ve also received a notice on the issue you mentioned, but we’ll take good care of the torch relay according to the Qomolangma date. The torch will be in Shanghai for two days while it will be on mountain for much longer time, including the time for preparations. So we’ll try to avoid the time clash.

12. China Daily: I’m from China Daily. I’ve a question. Shenzhen has issued the social security card that is accepted around the nation, and when will Shanghai begin to work on the program? Because many delegates raised the issue of a nationwide social security card during this year’s“two sessions.”
Bao Danru: The social security card should be further defined, as authorities are working on a nationwide plan for the social security card. All Shanghai citizens have the social security card that is used for medical treatment. The card, however, cannot be used now to pay the pensions, which have to be paid through cards issued by financial institutes. I have no idea what the Shenzhen social security card is like. The key issue is not the card, but the system and improvement of the information system. As I know, the state is promoting actively a“golden insurance”project, or the system construction for the social security. Only after the system is completed can the social security card available have more and more functions.

13. Xinmin.cn: I’m from Xinmin.cn. Mr Chen, there has been word that the former deputy director of Putuo District allegedly earned illegal profits through reforms of state-owned enterprises, could you tell us something about the investigation? In addition, the city has planned to adopt measures to handle the diesel supply, are the measures in place?
Chen Qiwei: I cannot answer the first question as I have no information on that. As to whether the measures are in place, you can check it out at gas stations where you can see whether they are as crowded as last week.

14. The Oriental Daily News: I’m from The Oriental Daily News. Some demonstrators broke into the Olympic torch lighting ceremony in Greece yesterday, and recently there were incidences in Tibet. Is it because of these that you will revise the security measures? What will be the revisions, and could you give us some details? Thank you!
Yu Chen: Everyone that is interested in the previous Olympic Games must have noticed the fact that some incidences, even terrorist acts, happened at every Games. We have also shown concern about that. I already said just now that when working on relevant plans we follow the common practice and requirements of the Olympic committee while make corresponding changes if necessary. In one word we hope for a smooth Olympics in Beijing.

Chen Qiwei: That’s all for today’s press conference. Thank you all.