Emergency clean-air plan unveiled
1 August 2008
Beijing, Tianjin and parts of Hebei province may impose stricter measures to curb industrial and vehicle pollution during the Olympics, state media reported. If forecasts call for "extreme unfavorable weather conditions" in the next two days, restrictions on cars and factories will be increased, a report on the website of China's Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Thursday. Additional factory suspensions and auto restrictions are planned for Beijing, Tianjin and the cities of Baoding, Shijiazhuang, Chengde, Zhangjiako, Langfang and Tangshan in Hebei. If authorities determine that air quality will meet certain lower-pollution targets for two more days, the emergency plan will be halted. Beijing has already relocated major polluters, restricted autos and halted most construction.