Shenzhen would hand out 100-RMB (14.7 USD) prepaid phone cards to its citizens to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Aug 26, a government press conference was told Thursday (Aug 19).
Specially designed to commemorate the anniversary, a total of 15 million cards would be distributed, 8 million of which would be provided by China Mobile's Shenzhen branch, 5 million by China Telecom and 2 million by China Unicom, said Wang Yi, secretary general of the Shenzhen municipal Party committee.
"The free cards will be distributed so each citizen can share the economic achievements of Shenzhen over the past 30 years. The three companies providing the cards have achieved a lot with the development of the special zone and the phone companies should reward their customers," Wang said.
Plans for the distribution were being studied, Wang said.
As well as the gift phone cards, the city government had planned a variety of activities to celebrate the anniversary with public participation.
CCTV would broadcast a star-studded gala presented by about 2,000 performers at the Citizens' Center in Futian on the afternoon of Saturday, expecting 6,000 spectators, more than one- third of whom would be migrant workers.
There would be a ceremony attended by State and provincial officials, foreign guests and representatives from all walks of life followed by a 30-minute fireworks and laser display at the square in front of the Citizens' Center. A date has not been set.
More than 2 million citizens voted online to suggest the 100 most significant events and the 30 most influential figures over the past 30 years. Results were yet to be unveiled.
A one-month exhibition on Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China's reform and opening up, is due to open at the Ancient Art Hall at Shenzhen Museum. Another exhibition of the city's development would be open to the public from Aug. 26 at the museum.
The city government has called for a paid holiday Aug 27 so working people could enjoy the festive atmosphere.
(By Li Hao)
