Bell tolls for expressway toll booths on provincial borders

Several ministry-level departments, including those responsible for transport, finance and education, have recently responded to issues of public concern.

Fast, nonstop electronic toll collection on track

China is on track to eliminate all expressway toll booths on provincial borders by the end of the year, with related construction work expected to be completed by Friday, the Ministry of Transport said on Thursday.

Ministry spokesman Sun Wenjian told a news conference that all of the country's expressway entrances had been equipped with weighing systems and the weights of vehicles would be detected at expressway entrances nationwide from Monday.

He said tolls would still be collected on provincial borders, through a fast and nonstop electronic toll collection system.

China had more than 185 million electronic toll collection users as of Dec 10, he said.

Sun said the process of finding jobs for toll collectors after the elimination of toll booths was being carried out in an orderly manner and more than 9,600 people had found new positions in 25 provinces so far.

5.24 billion yuan fund for natural disaster victims

The ministries of finance and emergency management have allocated 5.24 billion yuan ($750 million) to ensure a warm winter for people affected by natural disasters.

The Ministry of Emergency Management said the funds will be used to provide basic cost of living allowances and relief for people affected by natural disasters in all regions in winter and spring.

The disaster relief fund was arranged on the basis of comprehensive investigations of affected areas and thorough assessment of local needs, it said.

On Dec 10, the ministries of emergency management, civil affairs, and finance held a video and telephone meeting at which local authorities were told to take concrete measures to ensure all people affected by natural disasters can receive the money before Spring Festival.

Student athletes, artists facing tougher scrutiny

China will implement strict regulations in this year's college enrollment of student athletes and artists, the Ministry of Education said in a notice published on Dec 11.

It said reviews of candidates' qualifications will be strengthened. Pilot colleges with high-level sports teams are required to pay extra attention to reviewing the qualifications of athletes with their technical titles earned outside of the province of their household or school registration or through team competitions.

In sports exams, anti-doping education will be further boosted and doping tests will be increased for student athletes hoping to join high-level sports teams, it said.

The ministry also asked high-level art troupes in colleges to cancel the preferential policy of lowering academic admission requirements for "a very few examinees with outstanding performance in art troupe tests".

Local education authorities and colleges should implement the policies strictly, it said.

Feedback sought on performance guidelines

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is considering new guidelines to regulate the country's performance industry to ensure its high-quality development, a notice soliciting public opinions on the draft guidelines said on Dec 5.

While the flourishing performance industry has played an important role in boosting cultural consumption and enriching people's cultural life, weak links still exist in terms of the content of commercial performances, ticket sales and on-site supervision, it said.

The notice said the guidelines aim to strengthen content review and on-site supervision of live performances in small theaters, including talk shows, cross talk and avantgarde drama.

The online livestreaming of commercial performances and performances involving virtual images will be further regulated.

The public can give feedback on the draft guidelines until Sunday.