Beijing

Consumers doubt drink safety

Only one in five Chinese consumers trusts the quality of bottled beverages and others cite illegal additives as their major concern, according to the results of a survey released on Tuesday.

An online survey conducted by the China Youth Daily showed that dairy beverages stir up the most anxiety in consumers, with 67 percent of the 1,290 survey respondents doubting the quality of dairy drinks.

More than half of the survey respondents said the quality of fruit and vegetable juices concern them most, while drinks made by stores and restaurants are the third most worrisome.

The survey was conducted last week on the country's leading portal website, sina.com, after a recent spot inspection on beverage safety problems found six bottled water brands to contain excessive levels of the carcinogen bromate.

Jilin

Professor calls for memorial

A Chinese professor on Tuesday called for establishing a memorial for the Chinese foster parents of Japanese orphans left behind in China during the World War II.

The memorial is meant to honor the Chinese who adopted the orphans of their enemies, even after their homeland was invaded and their relatives slaughtered during Japan's aggression, said Cao Baoming, vice-president of China Society for the Study of Folk Literature and Art.

"Their maternal love extends beyond national boundaries and hatred and should be recorded in history," said Cao, who is also an expert on the wartime Japanese orphans.

Some 5,500 Japanese orphans were abandoned in China when their parents either fled or died in 1945 following the defeat of the Japanese occupiers, Cao said.

In Changchun, the capital of northeastern Jilin province, 39 adoptive parents lived in a residence designated for them 20 years ago. Today, however, only one remains.

"The group is aging and passing away," said Cao.

Shanghai

Compensation handed out

As much as 54.7 million yuan ($8.5 million) has been donated to the families of those killed in the blaze on Nov 15 in Jing'an district, Shanghai, the Jing'an branch of Shanghai Charity Foundation said on Tuesday.

Some 28.3 million yuan has been distributed to the recipients via directed donations, compensation and aid programs, said the foundation.

The donations were distributed according to the law after strict completion of procedures, said the foundation.

China Daily - Xinhua