Vice-Mayor Ji Lin has announced Beijing will clamp down on heavy-polluting industries during the 2008 Olympics. Production will be scaled back or shut down as needed.

‘Some plants will be asked to adjust their working hours and production processes. Some plants will reduce production, while some will have to stop work altogether,’ Ji said. ‘During the Games, we will place more restrictions on the Shougang Group to further reduce pollution.’ Shougang, a major steel maker in the capital, has plans to relocate to Tangshan, a nearby industrial hub.

Last July, a local coking and chemical factory was shut down reducing coal burnt in the capital by 3 million tons and waste dust by 7,300 tons. The Beijing Olympic Games anti-pollution campaign has been responsible for the shut-down of over 190 chemical plants to date.

Ji also commented on plans to control traffic gridlock. ‘We will consider the experiences of previous Games, while taking Beijing’s situation into account.’ He referred directly to the 1996 Summer Games. Atlanta reduced traffic by about 2.5 million vehicles.

Beijing will turn away all heavily loaded trucks and place a ban on gas stations unable to comply with standard anti-leak devices before June, 2008.
Source: China.org.cn