新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2016/02/10（在线收听）

The Beijing Hour

Morning Edition

Paul James with you this Wednesday, February10 , 2016. Day-3 of the Spring Festival holiday

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, live from the Chinese capital.

Coming up on the program this morning.

Police in Hong Kong are suggesting this week's riot in the Mong Kok district of the city may have been pre-planned.

Mainland health authorities have confirmed the first case of the Zika virus in China.

German transport officials are looking into whether human error may have been a factor in a deadly head-on train collision yesterday.

Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng has earned itself a spot in this year's AFC Champions League tournament.

All that coming up in the next 30-minutes....

In the 2nd half of the hour, we'll be bringing you an edition of People In the Know.

Top

Hong Kong riot prepared and organized: police

Hong Kong police are suggesting a small-scale riot which broke out earlier this week was planned in advance.

Hong Kong police Commissioner Lo Wai-Chung says the investigation is suggesting the rioters were bused in.

"It was an organized and planned riot. Police forces in Hong Kong are going to continue to strictly enforce the law, and plan to make further arrests. I want to ensure people in the city that Hong Kong police have ability and confidence to handle any illegal acts, and will be doing our best to ensure that those behind the rioting will be found."

A mele broke out on Monday evening during the Lunar New Year's celebrations in the bustling Mong Kok district in Kowloon after police attempted to clear out illegal street vendors.

Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung says those responsible will be punished.

"The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region severely condemns the violent behavior of the rioters. We will never tolerate this. Hong Kong police are not going to spare any effort to arrest those responsible. Meanwhile, I would like to deliver my sympathy to the police officers and news reporters injured in the riot."

Rioters in Mong Kok hurled bricks and stones at police officers during the rioting, which lasted for a few hours on Monday evening and early Tuesday morning.

Around 300 people were involved.

Over 90 police officers and 4 reporters were injured in the unrest.

Police arrested 54 people that evening, and expect that number to rise as the investigation continues.

China detects 1st imported case of Zika virus

The first case of the Zika virus has been detected here in China.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission has confirmed a 34-year old man from Jiangxi, who had recently visited Venezuela, is infected with the virus.

Authorities say the patient returned to his home town on Friday after making stops in Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

He was admitted to hospital the following day with Zika symptoms, which include a rash and a low-grade fever.

Doctors say the patient is in good condition, with his symptoms already fading.

Mainland health authorities say the risk of Zika being passed-on from the patient is extremely low, as it's believed the Zika virus can only spread from human-to-human through bodily fluids.

Zika has been spreading rapidly through South and Central America.

While not fatal to adults, the mosquito-borne virus is the cause of a sharp rise in microcephaly cases - children born with abnormally small heads.

Chinese health authorities say the potential spread of Zika into China remains low at this point, as the winter weather keeps the mosquito population in check.

Death toll of Taiwan quake rises to 41

The death toll from Saturday's earthquake in southern Taiwan has risen to 41.

110 others are still listed as missing, believed trapped under the rubble of the collapsed Wei Guan apartment building in the city of Tainan.

The 17-story building collapsed on itself early Saturday morning after Tainan and its surrounding areas was hit by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake.

Heavy equipment is being utilized to try to reach more victims.

Meanwhile, authorities in Tainan have made the first arrest in connection with the collapse of the Wei Guan building.

"The prosecutor of Tainan District Prosecutors Office applied to detain three defendants: Lin Ming-hui, Chang Kui-bao and Cheng Jin-gui. After questioning, the judge considers it highly likely the three defendants committed negligent homicide."

Reports have suggested the walls of the Wei Guan building, which was built 20-years ago, may have been packed with empty cooking oil containers during the construction process.

The illegal cost-saving technique by developers has been pointed to as one of the factors behind the deaths of over a thousand people after Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999.

Signaling system checked last week: German rail

Technicians looking into the deadly head-on collision of a pair of passenger trains in Germany yesterday say the signaling system doesn't appear to have been an issue.

German rail spokesperson Klaus-Dieter Josel says the signals on the track had undergone checks just this past week.

"It is a cooperation with transport companies that operate this route, in this case Meridian or Bavarian Oberlandbahn, and it's a cooperation that's tracked and recorded. Merdian has been driving for years, and up to now there were never problems. We also told Minister Dobrindt that the PZB 90 and signal box was routinely checked last week. There were no technical problems on this route."

A pair of passenger trains collided head-on yesterday morning on the outskirts of Munich, leaving 9 dead and 90-others hurt.

"Suddenly you could feel the train brake abruptly, and there was a massive bang. My head was hurled forward and when I opened my eyes again, all was dark. All you could hear was people shouting and screaming.

Initial indications are suggesting the automatic breaking system on the line failed.

However, transport authorities in Germany are looking into whether human error may have played a role in the deadly accident.

New Hampshire Primary's kick-off

Voting is underway in the US state of New Hampshire in the 2nd battle of the campaign to decide who will run for President later on this year.

The small northeastern US state is the first official primary for the Democrats and Republicans.

Unlike voting last week in Iowa, which parses out delegates to the Party's national conventions based on the proportion of the votes each candidate has earned, New Hampshire is a winner-take-all state for the winning candidate.

"I just got out of my car and said 'Oh my God who am I going to vote for? Who am I going to vote for?' So then I just looked and I said you know what? I was watching up I was watching all of the debates, so I said hmmm, Hillary Clinton it's going to be."

Polling heading into the vote has suggested New York billionaire Donald Trump is likely to take the primary for the Republican Party, with over 31-percent of voters saying they plan to support him.

Florida senator Marco Rubio stood 2nd in Republican voter support in New Hampshire, but well-back at 14-percent.

On the Democratic side, the race is a bit more close.

Polling has shown Vermont senator Bernie Sanders with just under 55-percent support, while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was polling at just over 41-percent.

Chicago Stock Exchange CEO dismisses national security concerns over acquisition by Chinese group

Anchor:

The head of the Chicago Stock Exchange is moving to rebuff concerns about the bourse's acquisition by a Chinese investor group.

CRI's Ryan Price has more.

Reporter:

Chongqing-based Casin is purchasing the Chicago Stock Exchange for a reported 100-million U.S. dollars.

The purchase, announced this past week, has set-off debate about opening up foreign ownership to a US stock market, with suggestions being made the acquisition could pose a threat to US financial security.

Chicago Stock Exchange CEO John Kerin says he believes any discussion about national security concerns is misguided, suggesting lawmakers need-not create another situation similar to the planned purchase of US ports in 2006 by a company from Dubai.

"I don't expect it to be a similar debate. There are 12 different venues to trade stocks here in the United States. Only one of them is not going to be problematic for anybody."

The Dubai Ports World controversy in 2006 saw the US Senate introduce legislation to block the deal.

Eventually, Dubai Ports World was forced to sell the leasing rights to the US port operations it had purchased to AIG's American investment division.

Like the 2006 purchase, Chongqing Casin Investment Group's purchase of the Chicago Stock Exchange will need approvals from US regulators.

John Kerin says he expects a different reaction this time from US lawmakers.

"Because we are a comparatively small exchange, I don't see this as being particularly problematic for anybody. The foreign entities have purchased U.S. exchanges in the past, specifically the Deutsche Boerse purchased the ISE. And they followed a process, and I anticipate that we will follow that same process. The message we have been delivered from the SEC is that they don't plan on treating this any differently."

The SEC, the Securities and Exchange Commission, is the body which oversees securities regulations in the US, administering federal securities laws.

Meanwhile, Kerin says he expects the purchase of the Chicago bourse is going to help the exchange establish a presence in China.

"We get an order that is interested in the Chicago Stock Exchange, interested in funding it, that has the ability to bring us business in the form of these listings. And, we get a potential presence in one of the fastest growing markets in the world."

At the same time, Kerin says the Casin purchase of the Exchange is only going to help bolster its bottom-line.

"So we have grown significantly in the past 12 months, and we anticipate that trend continuing. Our strategic initiatives will further that cause. And down the road, we see the business that the Chinese bring to us as assisting and adding to that significantly."

In making the purchase, Casin has said it will preserve the Chicago Stock Exchange's current business operations.

Its management team is also being left in-tact.

Casin officials say they hope to have the deal finalized sometime in the 2nd half of this year.

Casin Group, headquartered in Chongqing, is a holding company that invests mostly in financial services, real estate and environmental services.

The 134-year-old Chicago Stock Exchange handles about half-a-percent of all stock trades in the United States.

For CRI, I am Ryan Price.

Foreign Amusement Parks Wrestle for Chinese Market: Opportunity or Challenge?

Anchor:

With the final touches being put on Shanghai Disney Land, discussions are being prompted about the overall state of amusement parks here in China.

CRI's Liu Xiangwei has more.

Reporter:

Rejoice, Chinese park-goers, because 2016 is just like a gift box wrapped with ribbon and bow. In spring, a Legoland is ready to unveil itself; and come mid-June, Disneyland, which is touted as the "happiest place on Earth", is going to land in Shanghai; while in Beijing, a Universal theme park is currently under construction.

Ardent fans are at fever pitch.

"I am most interested in the Universal Studio's theme park. "

"I am very excited for Legoland. I've seen Lego bricks in shops before, I found those interlocking models and minifigures amazing. It will be fantastic if people could make a theme park out of these toys. "

3#male2

"What I am looking forward to the most is the Disney Resort in Shanghai. You know, I visited the Hong Kong Disneyland once and enjoyed it a lot. Maybe because Disney cartoons are something I grew up with, the park evoked my childhood memories. "

According to the recently released 2015 global amusement park industry report, when the per-capita GDP of a nation reaches 5,000 US dollars, leisure-oriented tourism will expand in the country. As China's per-capita GDP exceeded 7,000 US dollars in 2015, amusement park attendance is on the rise, which attracts gimlet-eyed international investors.

Dr. Liu Simin is a specialist in tourism studies. He admits that the influx of foreign companies will no doubt put pressure on Chinese brands, but they could also prop up this growing yet wobbly market.

"For those leading Chinese companies, such as Happy Valley, Fangte and Guangzhou Chimelong, introducing foreign theme parks probably means they will lose customers. However, this market is growing very fast. These international brands are cultivating a new customer base rather than snatching away a fraction from the existing one. As top performers of this industry, they could set the benchmark for Chinese amusement parks. "

In recent years, various amusement parks have sprung up across China, from tasty chocolate park to awe-inspiring water world.

However, in the eyes of Dr. Liu, compared with their foreign counterparts, these Chinese companies still need to fill in the gaps.

"No matter it is Happy Valley, Fangte, or Chimelong, they all lack the creativity. This problem is not something we could solve in one go. In terms of business model, most western parks are promoting their attractions as well as resorts. In China, Guangzhou Chimelong adopts a similar model in Zhuhai and northern Guangdong, but is totally eclipsed in terms of scale and brand awareness."

So, what sort of parks could attract Chinese visitors?

Opinions seem to be varied.

"I like theme parks that could create classic while present innovative ideas at the same time."

"It should have enough interactive, participative and tech-savvy programs. Take myself as example, 4D theatre attracts me most. "

"No matter it is Disneyland, Legoland or Universal Studio park, I just want to see something related to famous films or well-known movie characters, otherwise it would be so boring. You know, roller coasters are all the same. "

Though customers appear to be picky, tourism expert Liu Simin emphasises that companies are not on the ropes.

"Visiting theme park is a kind of repetitive leisure activity. It attracts nuclear families and young people around the age of 20 to 35. As living standard has improved in China and the post-80s and 90s generations grow up, they bring new consumption concepts. In that case, theme park will be in high demand. In the future, this market will be shared by international giants, domestic brands and even some small-scaled companies."

Accordingly, Americans spend nearly 10 billion US dollars a year in theme parks. Compared with them, Chinese are still finding their feet. But as many parks are being built, with a gigantic head start, the future seems to be promising.

BACK ANCHOR:

CRI's Liu Xiangwei reporting

Russia to launch regular mail train to China

Russian Post, the country's postal carrier, has announced plans to launch a regular mail train between Moscow and Beijing.

A train with 18 special mail cars will circulate between the two capitals.

The launch date for the new service has not been announced.

Russian Post began offering train-based postal services to China in 2014.

Those services are linked to passenger trains travelling between the countries.

The CEO of the Russian mail carrier says the post-only train service is part of a 3-year plan to better-link Russia with the Chinese government's Silk Road economic initiative.

Georgia to Build New Maritime Corridor between China and Europe

Anchor:

Authorities in the southern Caucuses country of Georgia are promoting the creation of a new 2.5-billion US dollar port on the Black Sea as an opportunity to benefit from the Chinese government's Silk Road economic initative.

CRI's Xie Cheng has more.

Reporter:

At a news conference in Tbilisi, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, explained the significance of the new project.

"This will bring completely new opportunities to Georgia to implement the concept of the Silk Road on a new scale. It will enable the South Caucasus transport corridor to operate at a new capacity and scale."

He said the Anaklia Development Consortium has been chosen to build and develop the port, beating 6 other interested parties.

The enterprise is a joint venture between the Georgian-based TBC Holding and Conti International, which is a U.S-based developer of infrastructure and capital projects.

The consortium's general director Levan Akhveldiani hailed the project as a very important and unprecedented initiative.

"It will create the first deep sea port in Georgia and it will facilitate the trade routes going through the South Caucasus. It will not be only important for Georgia the entire region, central Asian countries and especially benefit the Chinese "One Belt, One Road" initiative, which facilities... which is the shortest route going from China to Europe and Georgia lays as a gateway and Anaklia will serve as a gateway for that route. "

Mamuka Khazaradze, President of TBC Holding, also lauded the project.

"We are implementing the project which will link Asia and Europe. This will be a continuation of China's One Belt-One Road initiative, which is a new concept for old Silk Road."

Construction on the project will begin by the end of this year, and the port is expected to be operational 3 years from now.

The port's cargo capacity will be boosted by it being able to handle the largest container ships which need deep-sea access.

The restoration of the historic Silk Road and a faster maritime corridor between China and Europe has been a major priority in Georgia for years.

For CRI, I'm Xie Cheng.

Dubai's landmark lights up to celebrate Spring Festival in UAE

Anchor:

A series of events in shops, malls and tourist areas are held in the United Arab Emirates to mark this year's Spring Festival celebrations.

CRI's Fei Fei has more.

Reporter:

The Burj Al Arab, a famous hotel and a landmark in Dubai, has lit up the Chinese character for "monkey" on its facade to mark this year's Spring Festival, which marks the start of the "Year of Monkey."

Anthony McHale, general manager of the Burj Al Arab, says the Chinese New Year provides the hotel with a significant business opportunity.

"For us it's a very, very important thing, the key business relationship that we have with you (China). And I think this year is special because it's the year of the monkey, yes, but five years on, our business is grown and our association is grown 2, 3, 4 fold and you (China) are actually the most important market to us today. Well, I'll attempt to say it properly: Gong Xi Fa Cai."

Tourism authorities in Dubai estimate around 450-thousand Chinese tourists travelled to the city last year.

This is an almost 30-percent year on year increase from 2014, representing the strongest uptick in travelers among all nations flocking to Dubai.

To try to capitalize on this, the Spring Festival celebrations in Dubai include an array of dances, shows, craft workshops and an art exhibition, all showcased in a traditional Chinese style, drawing the attention of tourists from China and other parts of the world.

"I know that my eldest daughter was born in the year of the monkey 12 years ago, so the celebrations today here in the Burj Al Arab is fantastic, it's great to be part of that and it's a pleasure to watch the lion dancing on the stage. So, happy new year to everybody and everybody enjoy the year of the monkey."

The Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai has been marking the Spring Festival since 2012.

For CRI, this is Fei Fei.

New York Marks Lunar New Year

Anchor:

New York's famed Chinatown district is buzzing this week, as the 'big apple' marks the start of the Lunar New Year.

Our William Denselow has more from New York.

Reporter:

Kicking off the New Year with a bang.

In the heart of New York's Chinatown hundreds brave the cold and snow for a glimpse of the New Year fire crackers.

Public schools in the city are closed for this holiday for the very first time and families aren't allowing a little inclement weather to dampen their mood.

"It's a big deal because we can celebrate it, or the Chinese people can celebrate it as well as like Christmas that we enjoy and everybody enjoys it."

"It's about time they started doing that. When I was a kid going to school here they didn't have it so I had to take a sick day or leave."

The Year of the Monkey is associated with energy and mischief. And armed with drums and confetti- New Yorkers are trying to get into the spirit.

The city is home to over a million Asian Americans. And Executive Director of the Chinatown Partnership Wellington Chen says New York's Chinatown is a special place to ring in the new year.

Wellington Chen, Executive Director, Chinatown Partnership

"New York, this is one of the oldest Chinatown's so you can't beat it. No other Chinatown has the kind of history, the roots, the deep culture and the connection to the Statue of Liberty in the harbour."

But the firecracker ceremony in Chinatown is just one part of the city's effort to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.

Across Manhattan a cross-cultural art exhibit has opened celebrating the works of established and contemporary artists from the US and China.

It's part of a five day festival taking place across the city and Chair of the US-China Cultural Institute Shirley Young- says she hope to make the new year more than just a celebration.

Shirley Young, Chair, US-China Cultural Institute

"I hope what this overall celebration does is really to help people understand better in a deeper way through the arts, through the kids, through nature, what modern China is about."

New Yorkers have also been treated to a huge fireworks display on the Hudson River. To ensure the Year of the Monkey gets off to a flying start.

For CRI, I'm William Denselow in New York

Shandong Luneng beats Adelaide to advance in AFC champions League

In football,

Shandong Luneng has earned its way into this year's Asian Champions League tournament.

Luneng, which finished 3rd in the Chinese Super League, has made its way into the Group Stages of the AFC Championship tournament with a 2-1 victory over Australian side Adelade last night.

Yang Xu and Diego Tardelli tallied for Shandong in the victory.

With the win, Luneng has earned a place in the Champions League Group F, which is one of the toughest of the draws.

Other teams in the group include Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima, FC Seoul and Buriram United out of Thailand.

Paris releases bid logo and sponsorship deals for 2024 Olympics

In some Olympic news,

The city of Paris has released its bid logo for the 2024 Olympics, as well as its initial sponsorship list.

Some 8-million euros worth of sponsorships from 4 major French companies have already been confirmed.

However, Paris bid organizers say they need at least 30-million euros worth of private funding to maintain the bidding process.

The French government will foot the rest of the bill.

Paris is bidding for the 2024 Games against Rome, Los Angeles and Budapest.

The IOC will announce the bid winner in September of 2017.

That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.

Recapping our top stories ...

Police in Hong Kong are suggesting this week's riot in the Mong Kok district of the city may have been pre-planned.

Mainland health authorities have confirmed the first case of the Zika virus in China.

German transport officials are looking into whether human error may have been a factor in a deadly head-on train collision yesterday.

Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng has earned itself a spot in this year's AFC Champions League tournament.

On behalf of the rest of the Beijing Hour team, this is Paul James in Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together.