MILITARY and security units have been given extra praise and support in the amended version of premier Li Peng's Government Work Report to be endorsed by the NPC today. In a clause added to the original report delivered on March 5, the three major security units - the People's Liberation Army, armed police and public security officers - were praised for playing a significant part in strengthening national defence. 'During the Eighth Five-Year Plan [1991-1995], the units made new contributions to defend the motherland, safeguard national security and social stability,' the pro-China Hong Kong daily, Ta Kung Pao said. The change was apparently aimed at further boosting the Army and security officers' status among government officials and citizens. Jilin, which was omitted in the draft report, was labelled a major base for cotton and grain production, putting it in the same league as Heilongjiang and Xinjiang. The amended report also said economic planners should balance the relationship between growth and benefits when developing the economy. The report was also amended to play down some problem areas, such as saying pollution would only 'possibly' be worsened by the increasing population and the fast-growing economy.
