Community

Trees up for grabs at Summer Palace

The Summer Palace has opened its doors to tree sponsors in a bid to engage more people in environmental protection, with 85-year-old Mei Lei the first participant, Beijing Youth Daily reported.

Dai Quansheng, assistant to the palace director, said 800 ancient trees and more than 30,000 arbors, as well as 100,000 square meters of flowerbeds and grasslands, have been put up for adoption.

A year's sponsorship costs 5,000 yuan for an ancient tree, about 500 yuan for other trees and 10 yuan for a square meter of grassland. Each adopted plant will have a card indicating the name and the sponsor's wishes.

Community

Period for dog registration starts

The annual registration of pet dogs in the capital will start on Sunday and last for two months.

Authorities said 950,000 animals have already been registered, with owners paying 500 yuan for a certificate. People without the necessary documentation for their pets will face action from Beijing police in July, Beijing Times reported.

Read what METRO's pet expert had to say on registering dogs by visiting http://t.cn/htQ4gh.

Accident

Boy plunges to his death off high-rise

A child has died after falling 20 floors from a new residential building in Xicheng district, Mirror Evening News reported on Monday.

The accident happened at 7 pm on Sunday and onlookers said the boy was about 6 years old, adding that his parents are decorators working in the neighborhood.

One eyewitness said the victim fell from the platform as he played in a public area on the 20th floor. Police would not confirm what happened in the run-up to the tragedy.

Residents reported hearing crying inside the building that night. A young woman was later driven away in a police car.

Court

15 years in prison for killer son

A son who beat his father to death after he refused to lend him money has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, Beijing Times reported on Monday.

Beijing No 2 Immediate Court heard Gong, 25, was abandoned by his father as a baby. However, in July last year he traveled to Beijing to ask to borrow cash. The victim, who had a family with his second wife, refused and disowned his son.

Gong showed up drunk at the home later that night and, during the ensuing argument, hit his father on the head several times. He died in hospital several days later.

Business

Tech exchange center opens

China's first technology transfer center established through joint efforts by two countries opened in Beijing on Monday.

The China-Italy Technology Transfer Center, which is just one of many high and new technology industrial development zones between the nations, will offer an information-sharing platform for scientific projects, technologies and experts.

Officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology said the center will cater to the needs of enterprises, especially innovative small and medium-sized businesses, as well as help them with a "soft landing" when entering each other's market.

China Daily

(China Daily 04/26/2011 page26)