'Ello, 'Ello, what's all this then? It appears simply maintaining law and order in Beijing is not enough for the city's police force, because soon they will have to be able to do it in English.

According to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, by 2008 police officers must be able to speak simple English and high-level officers must speak it well.

In addition, last June the city's "110" emergency call center initiated a two-year English training program to improve the language competence of the operators.

Beijing Legal Times

Rooster boosters

Wang Hong, a young man from Central China's Henan Province, painted 2,008 roosters, hens and chicks in different expressions on a 200-meter-long paper scroll to express his excitement about the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.

He chose to draw the rooster, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese lunar calendar, because it has positive meanings in both China and Western countries.

It took Wang three years to complete his work and he told reporters last Tuesday that he will soon present his painting to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

Dahe Daily

Rogge's 2007 wishes

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge has posted his New Year wish list on IOC's official website.

Rogge said that his main hope for 2007 was to make further progress in clamping down on doping in sport. He also expressed his wish that the growing trend of child obesity in developing countries could be reversed as these children take up a more active lifestyle.

Rogge expressed his optimism about the final preparations for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

Beijing Daily

Kissinger's blessing

In a congratulatory letter on the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-based Civilization Magazine, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger spoke very highly about the preparations for the Beijing Olympics.

Kissinger recalled the exciting moment when Beijing won the hosting rights of the 2008 Olympic Games on July 13, 2001, when he was one of the honorary, non-voting members of IOC.

He also expressed his full confidence that Beijing will be a successful host of the event.

Beijing Daily

Bikes of blessing

A group of 20 students from the Amateur Cyclists Association of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics will set off on a cycling expedition to Hong Kong January 26.

This is their special way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and the sixth anniversary of Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Olympics.

The students are currently riding their bikes to places in Beijing such as Tian'anmen Square, Beijing's Silicon Valley - Zhongguancun, and Wangfujing Business Street, to collect passers-by's signatures and blessings for the coming Olympic Games.

They will bring these blessings together with the Olympic spirit to Hong Kong.

The First