Briefs, January 2, 2013

Businessman jailed for port swindle

A Zhuhai businessman has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for swindling Gaolan port authorities out of 19 million yuan (HK$23.3 million) through various schemes including the promise of kickbacks, Southern Metropolis Daily reported. Wang Junhua, who controlled several aquaculture facilities near the port, was also fined 34.5 million yuan by the Zhuhai Intermediate People's Court on Monday. The court dismissed charges that Wang was involved in organised crime. Raymond Li

Five killed as crane collapses on site

Five workers were killed and another 18 were injured after a tower crane collapsed on a building site in Pudong district, China News Service reports. It is not clear how many workers were on the site, but they were pouring concrete into the new building on Monday night when the crane suddenly dropped on to the scaffolding and caused parts of the structure to collapse. Raymond Li

University delays for migrants' children

Six western provinces and regions failed to advance new residency rules for college entrance exams before the State Council's year-end deadline, Beijing Times reports. While the deadline was not compulsory, many migrant families are hoping for changes that will make it easier for their children to take the exams and attend university in their adopted homes. Analysts said the hold-out provinces were likely to adopt policies limiting the number of migrant children competing for local college places by excluding those whose parents have not worked in the area for a set period. Raymond Li