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SCMP Reporter

Better food safety and clearing illegal stalls are goals

Guangzhou authorities have given themselves three years to  make the city cleaner and greener as part of their plan to make it a modern metropolis.

They have set targets for improving food safety, controlling migrants and creating a better environment by 2008.

Announcing the launch of an 'urban management year',  Mayor Zhang Guangning   said the Guangdong provincial capital had made great strides in economic development and in improving its environment, but had focused on construction and neglected management.

'The 'urban management year' project is a necessary condition for creating a modern metropolis and raising Guangzhou's all-round competitiveness,' he said

On food safety, Mr Zhang said the government estimated there were more than 60,000 unlicensed food producers and vendors.

'Guangzhou people dare to eat anything, but if there is a problem the government still has to bear responsibility.'

He cited the case of fatal fake rice wine last year as an example.

At least nine people  died and 53  needed hospital treatment after drinking liquor made with methanol.

'We have to investigate and find these illegal operators [distillers].'

As part of its efforts, a 'safe breakfast project' will be launched next month, under which  restaurants guaranteeing to serve clean and safe meals will be opened.

Funding will also be provided to move meat markets indoors.

The government was aiming to register all the city's 5 million migrants, but must first provide them with more services.  It also aims to register all rooms for rent.

Commerce department figures last year  showed migrants ran 70 per cent of 10,827 unlicensed companies identified and made up 80 per cent of the city's counterfeiters.

Of the city's criminals, 87 per cent were migrants.

Eighty per cent of those owed wages were also migrants, according to the figures.

To clean up the environment, Mr Zhang said stalls set up illegally would be cleared away and there would be a  crackdown on illegal use of land and unapproved construction.

Efforts to make the city greener  would continue.

One city planner said most of the improvement projects mentioned were already under way.

The city's hosting of the Asian Games in 2010 was acting as a spur to improvements, he said.



Three-year target to make Guangzhou a cleaner city