More than 50 percent of people are optimistic about their incomes increasing in 2017, with rural people expressing more confidence than their urban counterparts, according to a recent survey report. About 55 percent respondents in rural areas believe … read more
Nearly 220,000 people have registered themselves as organ donors in China, and the number is expected to increase rapidly with the help of internet technologies, according to the China Organ Donation Administrative Center. The number of people who hav… read more
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NPC Deputy Mai Kangsen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering [Photo/China.org.cn] |
NPC Deputy Mai Kangsen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has suggested extending the annual fishing ban among other measures to protect ocean resources.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing annual session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing.
“Ocean resources are exhaustible. We have to recognize that, in order to protect ocean resources and make fishing sustainable, we have to have higher catch limits,” he said.
He proposed further extending the fishing ban, slapping strict controls on the size of fish caught, and setting fishing quotas.
Based on scientific estimates, Mai said the annual catch from the shallow ocean should be set in a range between 3-6 million tonnes. However, China’s current catch is more than 10 million tonnes every year, profoundly damaging the ocean ecosystem.
The fishing ban that China implements has been extended from three to four months and was extended to the Huaihe River last year. This year, the Pearl River and Minjiang River are included for the first time.
The ban is enforced beginning June 1 every year and aimed at safeguarding fish during their breeding season and conserving fish stocks.
“Despite the extension of the fishing ban, there is still a great strain on ocean resources,” said Mai. “We should come up with stricter policies to restore resources.”
Although there will be added management costs, protecting ocean resources was a far more important consideration.
read moreIn the March 2016 budget the government decided to increase total public spending from £681 bn last year, to £694bn this year and to £706 bn next year. For 2017-18 we are going to need a higher total, given the pressures on social care, the NHS and schools budgets.
The argument over the budget is less about the need for some more spending on priorities than on how this will be paid for. Some of us say that as the Treasury will be able to report stronger revenues than the Autumn Statement there is no need to hike individual tax rates or find new taxes to impose. Indeed, some selective cuts in rates on enterprise would be welcome, and likely to augment the revenues. Mr Osborne’s Spring budget last year slashed property transactions with higher Stamp Duties. The revaluation of Business rates will damage some smaller businesses that face high increases with no small premises exemptions.
It is most important that the budget promotes growth, investment and more productive working, rather than taxing it more. Treasury officials are ever minded to look for new sources of income, but the Ministers are there to protect taxpayers and to be a voice of commonsense about how far we can go with increasing tax rates. The UK economy has done relatively well in 2016 and so far this year, but could do better. It will need substantial new investment in broadband, water, electricity, and transport to overcome obstacles to growth and to lift it further. Anything the budget can do to speed these ideas, the better.
With the USA planning major tax cuts and with places like Ireland and Luxembourg also offering an attractive tax package to investors and business, the UK must stay competitive.
read moreShenzhen Customs have smashed a diesel oil smuggling operation, seizing more than 10,000 liters of illegal diesel. Ten suspects, including some from Hong Kong, were detained in the operation, according to customs. Officials said they received a tip of… read more