February 2, 2005

Top news of the day
Protests and petitions
Many national-level petition offices closed after over 500 police raids petitioners’ accommodation in Beijing
北京500多名警察搜捕访民 关闭信访
Dajiyuan.com, February 1, 2005
After police raided petitioners’ accommodation in Beijing last Sunday, in which thousands of petitioners were taken away, petition offices of many government bureaus were suddenly closed.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/1/n800669.htm

Public health
2 migrants die, 11 are infected in Guangdong
SCMP, February 2, 2005
The outbreak of bacterial meningitis in China has raised public concerns of the spread when thousands of migrant workers are returning home for the New Year holiday. The anxiety heightened after all cases of meningitis infections were migrant workers.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZA567HJ3E.html

Authorities defend timing of alert on meningitis outbreak
South China Morning Post, 2 February 2005
Hong Kong and mainland health authorities yesterday insisted an alert on bacterial meningitis had been sent out on time, as questions persisted about whether the vaunted post-Sars disease notification system had been bypassed.
http://english.big5.cqnews.net/system/2005/02/02/000440021.shtml

• Related news with top news:
  Beijing rejects claims of vaccine shortage
  SCMP, February 2, 2005
  http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZLO4BHJ3E.html

News
Children
Leaving kids in villages amongst rural migrant workers sparks off concerns on impacts of child development
中国农村父母外乡谋生 儿女寄放乡下现隐忧
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 2, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/cna_2005_02_01_22_43_05_480.html

Abandoned babies and orphans may be given hukou in Beijing under new regulations
北京首次规范孤儿弃婴户口 孤儿弃婴可落户北京
EastDay.com, February 2, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node48915/userobject1ai842317.html

Children – abuse (trafficking)
Cover-up of cross-province and cross-country children trafficking in Fujian
福建跨省跨国拐卖70名儿童案黑幕
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 2, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Forums/Back
Stage/2005_2_1_20_42_42_504.html

Death penalty
EU welcomes lifting of death sentence on Tibetan monk
Agence France Presse, 2 February 2005
BRUSSELS, Feb 2 (AFP) - The European Union welcomed Wednesday a Chinese court's decision to commute a death sentence against Tibetan monk Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche after an international outcry over his treatment in a fatal bombing case.
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/050202101613.z0qb0yzw

Government – governance and accountability
Premier solicits views on govt work report
Xinhuanet.com, February 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/01/content_25363
61.htm

June 4th – arms ban
US House of Representatives plan to propose a bill to stop EU lifting arms embargo on China
美众议院拟提案阻欧盟解除对华武禁
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 2, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/NorthAmerica/
2005_2_1_20_2_25_401.html

Rice wary of EU plan on China arms
Reuters, Feb 2, 2005
Europe could send the wrong signal on human rights in China if it ends an arms embargo imposed after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=665025

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽)
Activist detained, beaten on way to Zhao's funeral
SCMP, February 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZB367HJ3E.html

Remembering Zhao Ziyang: Bao Tong's Essay
SCMP, February 2, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/politics/2005/02/01/china_15th/

Dissidents group sets to organize memorial activities for Zhao in every Chinese province
民运准备在中国各省设立分会纪念赵紫阳
Dajiyuan.com, February 1, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/1/n800749.htm

Labor – employment market
Laid-offs, graduates key jobless priorities
Xinhuanet.com, February 2, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/02/content_2537
457.htm

Labor – safety and work conditions
Due concerns given to the rights of Guangdong migrant workers
广东民工权益日益受到关注
Radio Free Asia, February 1, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/01/mingong/

Law - legal reform
Lawmaker's resignation sparks debate on legislature reform in China
Xinhua News Agency, 2 February 2005
The resignation of provincial lawmaker Gao Minglun in east China's Anhui Province last week has sparked a hot debate on the reform of the country's legislatures.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/02/content_2541044.htm

Migrant workers
Feature: a rural worker's trip home
Xinhua News Agency, 2 February 2005
When Bai Guangqin stepped off the overcrowded train at 5:00 am, he had barely covered one third of his trip home.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/02/content_2540079.htm

Population – aging population
Mainland struggles to care for the aged
SCMP, February 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=SCMP/Printacopy&aid=ZZZU7M9HJ3E

Public health
Hainan children queue for jabs
SCMP, February 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ3567HJ3E.html

Drinking water safety top priority: minister
Xinhuanet.com, February 2, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/02/eng20050202_
172729.html

Social security
Coverage of China's social security up by big margins in 2004
People’s Daily, February 2, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/02/eng20050202_
172648.html

Social security / labour
Unemployment insurance covers more people
Xinhuanet.com, February 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/01/content_2536
284.htm

Women - rights
WOMEN'S FEDERATIONS TRYING TO HELP MEN
China Daily, 2 February 2005
GUANGZHOU: Women's federations have long protected the legal interests of women but in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, the local federation has branched out.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/02/content_414173.htm

Tibet
China Pleased as Nepal Shuts Down Offices of Tibetan Exiles
Voice of America, February 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/China-Pleased-as-2005-02-01
-voa103.cfm