PLA Rotation

On November 25, 2008, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) garrison troops in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) conducted their 11th troop rotation since assuming responsibility for Hong Kong’s defense on July 1, 1997.

The size of the force remained unchanged in terms of both personnel and weaponry after the rotation, said Colonel Cheng Dongfang, spokesman for the PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong.

The annual rotation commenced at midnight, November 25, 2008, when ground troop vehicles rolled across the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint into Hong Kong escorted by Hong Kong police.

Police Harleys

Three traffic police officers rode new Harley Davidson motorcycles on patrol missions along Beijing’s Chang’an Avenue on the morning of December 8. The motorcycles, each worth US$58,000, were provided by Harley Davidson, the famed American motorcycle manufacturer, as a gift to Beijing’s Municipal Traffic Police Bureau.

Harley Davidson has maintained a long working relationship with Beijing’s police and other law-enforcement agencies.

Joint Exercise

On December 6, 2008, a week-long joint antiterrorism exercise cooperatively conducted by China and India kicked off with demonstration of tai chi and Indian martial arts. The “Hand in Hand 2008” joint exercise ended on December 12.

Qin Xiangyou, in charge of the participating Chinese troops, said during opening ceremonies that the joint training was aimed to promote bilateral understanding and trust. He also explained that this was a way for their respective forces to develop friendship and expand areas of exchange and cooperation.

Friendly Exchange

On December 20, 2008, the closing ceremony of China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth was held in the gymnasium of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Aerospace. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda were in attendance.

A total of 2,008 young Chinese and Japanese joined in the event, marking the conclusion of the one year-long program of youth exchange between the two countries. The young people performed during the ceremony, singing high praise for the China-Japan friendship and expressing their expectations for ongoing bilateral goodwill.

Village Recovers

Luobozhai, less than 10 kilometers from the county seat of Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, is the largest Qiang ethnic village existing in China. The village was once the capital of the ancient Qiang King, then known as “the city upon the clouds.” Dwellings here were formed of soil, joining with each other and forming up the entire village as one. However most of the soil-built houses collapsed during the May 12 earthquake, killing 48 people in the village.

The Qiang ethnic villagers used wood and bamboo matting to build up temporary houses after the quake, and received food and winter necessities from the local government. The new houses, donated by Jiangmen City of Guangdong Province, remain under construction. Covered with soil to retain the village’s traditional appearance, the new structures are able to withstand a 8.0-magnitude earthquake.

Property Projections

Stimulating self-use housing demand and strengthening low-cost housing construction will remain the government’s major focus in stabilizing the property market in 2009, according to economists and real estate insiders. “How to maintain a steady property market will be a major concern for the government, especially at a time when the country’s economy is facing a growing risk of decline,” said Qin Xiaomei, research chief at CB Richard Ellis’ Beijing branch. “As far as we know, measures to further stimulate the self-use housing demand may be a topic in the ongoing Central Economic Work Conference.”

Photography Exhibition

From December 16 to 26, 2008, fine and historical images were in focus on Beijing’s Wangfujing Street. The Chang’an Cup National Photography Exhibition was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. Jointly sponsored by Chinese Photographers’ Association and China Photo Press, the exhibition comprised three primary subset subjects: “30 Years of People’s Livelihood,” “30 Years of Cities and Towns,” and “30 Years of Family Memory.” Presented were about 800 photographs memorializing this important three decades of development and progress in China.