Typhoon season

    SHENZHEN has entered its annual typhoon season, with four tropical cyclones forecast to reach within 500 kilometers of the city between July and August.

    By Monday, the city had recorded 927 millimeters of rain since flood season started March 26, the heaviest period in the past five years. The city also recorded 31 days with thunderstorms so far, the same frequency as in 2007, which is the most in the past 20 years, Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory said.

    Food smuggling

    SHENZHEN Customs busted a criminal gang June 7 that had been smuggling frozen goods like frozen seafood and beef, with a total value of more than 100 million yuan (US$16.2 million), Customs said Monday.

    The smugglers purchased goods from Canada, Australia, Mexico and other countries before transporting the goods to Vietnam, border officers said. The goods were then transported to Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

    Flights to Beihai

    SHANGHAI-BASED Juneyao Airlines will offer a daily flight from Shenzhen to Beihai, Guangxi, starting July 5, bringing the total number of flights to Beihai from Shenzhen International Airport to nine per week, airport managers said Monday.

    The A320 flight HO1153/1154 will depart from Beihai at 7:10 a.m. and arrive in Shenzhen at 8:15 a.m. daily. It will leave Shenzhen at 9:15 a.m. and arrive in Beihai at 10:15 a.m.

    Beihai is on Guangxi’s southern coast, on Beibu Bay, and is historically known as the starting point of China’s marine silk road. A city of natural resources, Beihai is also known for its “silver beaches.”

    Corruption probe

    MAI JISHU, the son of a former Bao’an District official, is being investigated by Bao’an authorities after accusations that he violated the country’s one-child policy, Bao’an’s population and family planning bureau said Monday.

    Mai and his wife posted photos of their luxury properties and cars on the Internet, which raised corruption suspicions involving his father, Mai Qirui, former deputy head of the district’s legislature. Earlier this week, Mai Qirui denied an online post’s claims that his several luxury sedans were acquired as illegal gains while he was in office.

    Mai insisted that the luxury sedans were bought legally, saying his wife has been doing business for dozens of years and his son is involved in business, too.

    Hospital services

    THE University of Hong Kong (HKU) Shenzhen Hospital opened treatment rooms in its pediatrics and adolescent medicine department yesterday, offering 37 beds for children. The number of beds in the department is expected to reach more than 100 after more facilities and medical staff are added, the hospital said.

    There are 15 doctors in the department, including 13 doctors from Hong Kong. The hospital plans to recruit about 30 mainland doctors later this year.

    Sniffer dogs

    SHENZHEN Customs is inviting people to visit its sniffer dog base in Yantian District on Sunday.

    Residents can dial 0755-8439-8402 to apply for a visit between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., until Friday.