Children and an elderly performer. Haikou is spending more on compulsory education and elderly homes. Huang Yiming

The capital of Hainan province Haikou has made detailed plans to improve people's lives.

At a meeting in early December, the Party leadership of Haikou adopted a circular to greatly improve people's livelihood and promote equal access to public services for all.

The city government has decided to ensure at least 55 percent of the municipal revenue be channeled into social undertaking and livelihood facilities because of its relative low level of social development.

In 2008 the city invested 2.1 billion yuan in projects related with livelihood. By 2012, the total investment in these facilities from the city revenue could reach 13 billion yuan. The city is also seeking financial support from governments at higher levels.

The promotions are exemplified by the following fields.

Employment

By 2012, the city will train 50,000 people in various fields and transfer 50,000 surplus rural laborers out of agriculture. Small loans will be extended to those willing to start their own businesses. Migrant workers will be helped with guarantee funds to ensure they get wages on time.

Education

Apart from preschool and compulsory schooling, the development of secondary technical and vocational schools will be encouraged so that all middle school graduates not advancing to colleges will cultivate some skills. By 2012, the city will expand these schools to 35.

Social security

Every neighborhood in the city will build up a service center for the senior citizens. In rural areas, 95 percent of all farmers will be enrolled into the cooperative medicare system.

Healthcare for all

Community health stations accessible to all within 20 minutes will be established. All their staff will receive training every year. Subsidies for one-child families will continue for part of families.

Culture and recreation:

Every town is to build up a standardized comprehensive station for culture and recreation. Farmers will be supported to help themselves in such facilities as well as in linking up digital cultural services with urban neighborhoods, towns and districts.

Housing

More affordable houses will be built for the low-income people and all unstable houses be rebuilt for the poverty-stricken.

Trials will be conducted in building safe facilities for locals in earthquakes.

Rural public utilities

A total of about 200 sections of rural highways will be built to integrate the countryside with urban transport systems.

Garbage collecting stations to be built in all towns by 2012. Similar facilities will be set up in at least half the villages.

Environment

An efficient urban traffic system will be built up by 2012 to reach almost all suburban areas. Ten new parks and 100 street-side green areas will be furnished. Current sewage treatment facilities will be expanded and new ones will be built at Changliu, Jiangdong and Longtang.

Public security

Public security checkpoints will be built at the railway station, the airport and two wharves.

Around 3,000 electronic cameras will be installed by 2012 and built into an emergency information platform.

(HK Edition 12/30/2008 page6)