Heavy-polluting industries in Beijing will be told to scale back production during the Olympics next August, while some firms will be completely shut down, Vice-Mayor Ji Lin said yesterday.

 

"Some plants will be asked to adjust their working hours and production processes. Some plants will reduce production, while some will have to stop work altogether," Ji said.

 

"During the Games, we will place more restrictions on the Shougang Group to further reduce pollution."

 

Shougang, a major steel maker in the capital, is on schedule to relocate to Tangshan, a neighboring industrial hub. A coking and chemical factory was closed last July, reducing the amount of coal burnt in the capital by 3 million tons. The move also cut the amount of waste dust released by 7,300 tons.

 

More than 190 chemical plants have been shut as a result of anti-pollution schemes related to the Games.

 

On the subject of traffic control, the senior official cited the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. The host city coaxed some 2.5 million vehicles off the road to ease traffic flows.

 

"We will consider the experiences of previous Games, while taking Beijing's situation into account," he said.

 

Ji said Beijing would also turn away heavily loaded trucks and ban any gas stations that failed to install anti-leak devices before June next year.

 

(China Daily June 1, 2007)