Zhejiang

Fancy clubs in parks closed

Authorities in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, ordered 10 high-end clubs in West Lake park to close on Friday, with other fancy establishments on public park grounds to shut in the coming days. The move aims to close all high-end clubs in West Lake and other historical cultural grounds to ensure scenic spots are used primarily by locals and tourists, a statement from the Hangzhou city government said. After being closed, the buildings should be used to provide services for the general public rather than a privileged few and parks should not allow such clubs to operate on their grounds, it said. Elite clubs outside parks should lower their prices so ordinary people can afford their services, it added.

Shoe plant fire victims identified

All 16 people who died in a shoe factory blaze in Wenling, Zhejiang province, have been identified through DNA, local authorities said on Saturday. The dead include 11 from Guizhou province, two from Anhui province and one each respectively from Jiangxi and Yunnan provinces, and Chongqing municipality, Wenling city's publicity department said. The fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon at the plant owned by Taizhou Dadong Shoes Co, Ltd in Wenling's Yangjiawei village. It killed six men and 10 women, and injured five others. More than 20 people were rescued. Two of the plant's owners and one manager were detained on Wednesday. The fire's cause is under investigation.

Liaoning

Legislator detained for raising money

A local legislator and four members of his family in Liaoning province have been detained for allegedly illegally raising more than 100 million yuan. Ma Deqiang, a deputy to the people's congress of Tieling city, and his wife, Cheng Hong, the legal representative of a pawn company in the city's Xifeng county, were arrested on Dec 13, according to sources with the county's publicity department. Cheng raised almost 110 million yuan ($18 million) from more than 400 people, promising high interest rates, but had not paid principal or interest since July 2013, the sources said. Ma's son, daughter and daughter-in-law were also detained. Both Ma's son and daughter work for the county government. Specific details about the accusations were not available. Further investigation is underway.

Hebei

Deadly restaurant blast

One person died and 33 were injured in an explosion in a restaurant in Hebei province on Saturday, local authorities said. The blast occurred around noon in a two-story building in Sanhe, according to sources with the city's publicity department. Most of the wounded - two of whom are being treated in local hospitals for severe injuries - are the restaurant's staff and customers. An initial investigation showed a gas leak in the kitchen may have caused the blast. Further investigation is underway.

Qinghai

Wetlands areas expanding

Qinghai province has seen an expansion of its wetlands in the past decade, the provincial forestry department announced on Saturday. By the end of 2013, Qinghai's wetland area had reached 8.14 million hectares - a roughly 50 percent increase from 2003, the department said. From 2003 to 2013, Qinghai experienced an increase of 2.59 million hectares, during which time the country's total wetland area shrunk by about 3.4 million hectares, said Ma Jianhai, director of the provincial wetland conservation and management center.

Xinhua

(China Daily 01/19/2014 page2)