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Talking points

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Our editors will be looking ahead today at these developing stories ...

New criteria weighed for country parks

Hong Kong's Country and Marine Parks Board will today discuss updated criteria for designating country parks. The criteria, if endorsed, will be used in making decisions on up to 54 enclaves facing possible development threats. Some key changes: private land would not automatically be excluded from country parks, and the need to reserve space for urban development would no longer be considered. Hong Kong

National basic health care on agenda

China's Ministry of Health will talk about national basic health care services today. A limited number of services are available free to urban and rural residents as part of reforms launched in 2009. But other medical costs are expensive, if not unaffordable. The ministry's party boss vowed to expand the scope of free basic health care services in the coming five years. China

Power shortfall promises summer blackouts

Blackouts loom on the mainland, with the China Electricity Council estimating the national electricity supply may fall short of demand by 30 million kilowatts. That is on par with the shortage during the power-stricken year of 2004. Yet the State Grid Corp warned the situation could be worse than 2004. Surging demand, too little coal, and drought are adding up to tight power supply from Jiangxi province in the east to Chongqing in the west. China

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