Free rides

    LUO FANG, a member of Shenzhen Committee of CPPCC, proposed that the city should lower the age limit for seniors to enjoy free public transport from the present 65 years old to 60 as Shenzhen’s senior population is relatively small.

    Luo said 200,000 senior residents hold Shenzhen permanent residence and the change of the age limit could relieve the financial burden on their children.

    Sociologist Yi Songguo of Shenzhen University said it would need thorough consideration if the policy covers senior residents without Shenzhen hukou as most of them are migratory.

    Transport subsidies

    SHENZHEN will offer 2.8 billion yuan (US$444 million) in subsidies to public transport operators this year, 1 billion yuan more than last year, to help them offset the increasing cost of fuel and the money saved by travellers who use TransCards.

    The city will spend 48.6 billion yuan this year in improving residents’ livelihood and social undertakings, with expenditure on education set to reach 11.3 billion yuan and spending on public health, 5 billion yuan, according to reports released at the annual session of the city’s legislature.

    Agency streamlined

    SHENZHEN will divide its mega agency Science, Industry, Trade and Information Commission into two agencies, Shenzhen Science Innovation Commission and Shenzhen Economics, Trade and Information Commission, a new agency to boost industry and trade.

    The mega agency, a child of government administrative reform in 2009, was widely criticized for having one chief and 20 deputies. Wang Xuewei, head of the commission, said in an interview that Shenzhen, a high-tech city, should have an independent agency to manage science innovation. The division is expected to improve the efficiency of governance.