Work has begun on keeping beggars, hawkers and advertising
fliers out of downtown Beijing to ensure fluid communication and a
better image for the capital, according to the office for 2008
environment-friendly Olympics.
The municipal's bureau of industry and commerce, together with
the department of public security, will strive to put an end to
illegal activities within the city's Second Ring Road, such as
begging, hawking, handing out advertising fliers on major roads and
running unlicensed taxis.
The Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau plans to make more effort this
year to accommodate handicapped people, the elderly and homeless
children. The bureau will try to send these urban vagrants home
free of charge.
Within the Fourth Ring, the priority is cracking down on drunk
driving, unlicensed driving and the absence of number plates, in
the hope of reducing accidents.
Jaywalking and non-motor vehicles disregarding red lights are
also problems, said sources with the office for 2008
environment-friendly Olympics, adding that they aim to make 90
percent of pedestrians and non-motor vehicles abide by traffic laws
within the Fifth Ring.
(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2007)