Growth target lowered

    China lowered its 2015 economic growth target to “approximately 7 percent” on March 4.

    The figure announced by Premier Li Keqiang is the lowest since a similar goal in 2004 and comes after China’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 7.4 percent in 2014, the slowest pace in 24 years. Last year’s target was 7.5 percent.

    Food safety top concern

    A survey found food safety has become the public’s top concern as China kicked off its political high season to discuss development goals and reforms for the coming year.

    According to the poll published by China Youth Daily on March 3, 77.3 percent of respondents said the issue of food safety is the most important quality of life issue to focus on during the annual two sessions of China’s top legislative body and top national advisory* body.

    The Third Session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened on March 2 in Beijing.

    Anti-graft law being drafted

    China plans to develop national legislation* to fight corruption, top legislator Zhang Dejiang said on Sunday.

    The top legislature is mulling* imposing* harsher punishments on those committing crimes of embezzlement* and bribery, said Zhang, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

    Criteria for imposing penalties* on criminals found guilty of corruption and bribes would be modified.

    HK protests condemned

    Hong Kong’s political figures on Monday condemned* the latest chaos caused by a few protesters who harassed* mainland shoppers in Hong Kong’s Tuen Mun area on Sunday, where many retailer stores had to close in the middle of the day.

    Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said that the incidents during the protests on Sunday were totally unacceptable.

    Lai said the group had abused their rights to express their views and exceeded the line of what’s permitted by law.(SD-Agencies)