Beijing marks Apec summit with extra public holiday, moves to cut pollution

The Beijing municipal government has announced a six-day public holiday for central and city government departments, and reintroduced an odd-even licence plate scheme to ease traffic on the roads during the Apec summit next month.

Zhuang Zhidong , deputy head of Beijing's environmental protection bureau, said the measures would reduce pollution during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting.

Local traffic controllers would restrict private cars on the road based on whether the last digit of the licence plate was odd or even, Xinhua reported.

From November 3 to 12, the number of public buses in the city will increase by 400, or 2 per cent of total public transport, to compensate for the lack of private vehicles.

Traffic authorities expect the measure to cut congestion by 35 per cent. During the 2008 Olympics, Beijing imposed a traffic ban using the same system and took 45 per cent of private cars off the road, relieving both traffic congestion and pollution.

Employees of government departments, quasi-government institutions and organisations in Beijing will be granted a six-day holiday from November 7 to 12 as an extra measure to reduce cars on the road. Workers will instead work on Sunday, November 2, and Saturday, November 15.