Guangzhou to Adjust Parking Fees

Beginning from today (July 1^st), new fee standards for parking areas will take effect in Guangzhou. Busy regions such as Beijing Road and Teem Plaza will charge 5 yuan for half an hour, 2.5 times the previous rate. Parking spaces provided by shops and entertainment venues are expected to follow government pricing, which is lower than the current level. Our journalist LiLian has more:

Officials with the Guangzhou price control bureau inspected parking venues today, finding that many have adopted the new fee standard. Vice director with the Bureau Wu Linbo said he is satisfied with the implementation:

"the policy has been put into operation effectively, following the government standard. During the first two days of implementation, if we have found that anyone violates the rules, we will ask them to correct it. We will issue punishment if they refuse to change it after the buffer period."

Banks Not Ready for Guangzhou's New Medical Insurance Scheme

Beginning today (July 1), Guangzhou's medical insurance system will cover all urban residents in Guangzhou. However, a survey by our journalists found that banks that are supposed to process resident insurance accounts have not yet started service. Government employees with the medical insurance department assured citizens that insurance still takes effect from July 1st as long as applicants successfully open their accounts before September.

 
Inflation Set to Ease in a Few Months

Central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said, China's inflation is likely to ease in the next couple of months because "we've got a good harvest, and some supply policies have started bearing results." He did not rule out the possibility of an increase in the interest rate. Zhou made the remark on Sunday (June 30) on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland.

Jet Fuel Surcharges Raised

China will increase jet fuel surcharges for domestic flights starting today(July 1). The surcharge for each passenger flying less than 800 kilometers will rise to 80 yuan from the current 60 yuan, and for those flying more than 800 kilometers the surcharge will rise to 150 yuan from the current 100 yuan.

(Photo from CFP)