Xinhua Harvest Dec 7th 2006 - 2

China might collect environment tax to curb pollution

According to Southern Daily in Shenzhen China considers an environmental tax as an answer to growing pollution problems. Southern Daily quoted Mao Rubai, chairman of the Environment and Resources Committee of the National People's Congress or parliament

"The country will gradually levy environment tax when conditions are ripe."

So far environmental costs or the use of resources are not being considered in Chinas tax regulation. China's sulphur dioxide emission in 2005 amounted to more than 25.5 million tons, 27 percent more than in 2000. A tenth of the countries arable land is polluted according to official figures. (Xinhua, 6th december)

Xinhua Harvest Dec 7th 2006

China to cut back the number of central SOEs
By 2010 China will reduce the number of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) managed by the central government by almost half by 2010, leaving only about 80 to 100 central government SOEs according to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC). Currently there are reported 161 SOEs, down from 196 in 2003

Many of China's central SOEs were formed through administrative fiscal transfers from the government, the army or scientific institutions affiliated to government departments, or by industrial restructuring.