State Council cancels, reduces fines for acts

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has announced plans to cancel or reduce fines on more than 50 types of behaviors that are being levied by public security, transport and market regulation authorities to further promote the reform of government functions and improve the nation's business climate.

For example, freight drivers may be fined for not having their road transportation permits in their vehicles in case of inspection, even though transportation authorities can look them up online.

Such fines are unreasonable, the State Council said in a statement published on Aug 12, asking its departments to finish revising or revoking related regulations within 60 days.

The decision was drafted by the Ministry of Justice and other departments and was approved at the State Council's executive meeting on July 21.

The ministry will see to it that related regulations are revised or revoked in a timely manner, an official of the ministry said, urging administrative organizations to strictly adhere to the new regulations and make sure companies and the public benefit from the change.

South declares level-four drought emergencies

The central government declared level-four drought emergencies in Chongqing municipality and the provinces of Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi and Anhui on Aug 11, as heat wave continues to ravage the southern part of the country.

Authorities in the regions should strengthen their management of water resources to ensure drinking water supplies, according to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, which sent work units to Sichuan, Chongqing, Anhui and Jiangxi to deal with drought.

Jiangxi's Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, has seen its water levels drop to a point rarely seen at this time of year.

Meanwhile, the headquarters asked the northern part of the country to stay vigilant, be prepared for another round of heavy rainfall and endeavor to prevent possible flooding.

Health authorities seek better fangcang design

The National Health Commission and two other ministerial-level departments have issued detailed guidance for provinces to improve the design of fangcang, or makeshift hospitals, where mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases are treated.

A fangcang should be designed for not only an emergency response but also daily use, the guidance said, asking local authorities to come up with reasonable plans and make full use of existing equipment to renovate or construct such hospitals to ensure their efficient operation.

The guidance, which listed specific suggestions for the hospitals' locations, layouts and operations, suggested they separate patients into sections and put up partitions between the sections to better protect patients' privacy. It also encouraged them to equip every bed with no fewer than three power outlets.

Provincial regions to get more pocket parks

The nation aims to build at least 1,000 pocket parks this year to increase space for outdoor activities, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

Each province, autonomous region and municipality, except for the Xinjiang Uygur and Tibet autonomous regions, is required to build 40 or more pocket parks this year.

Local authorities should make their own plans for pocket park construction, including the number, location and size of the parks that will be built and the funds that will be allocated for their construction, the ministry said.

When choosing sites for the parks, the authorities should give priority to urban areas that lack green space and design the parks to meet the needs of children and seniors, the ministry added.