Preferential rates
BANK of China Ltd. and four other major State lenders will end preferential mortgage rates for first-time homebuyers after the Lunar New Year holiday, local newspapers said.
The reported move, in the wake of similar steps taken by smaller commercial lenders in the city, including China Minsheng Banking Corp. Ltd. and China Everbright Bank, would mark the government s latest efforts to rein in runaway property prices.
Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China Construction Bank Corp. and Bank of Communications Co. Ltd. will take similar steps, local newspapers said, quoting sources at the Shenzen branches of the lenders.
Travelers home
ALL 227 Shenzhen travelers who had been stranded in Egypt amid massive protests against President Hosni Mubarak returned home safely in two chartered flights with Air China and Hainan Airlines on Feb. 2 and 3. Chinese-language media reports said that all Chinese nationals stranded in Cairo had returned home safely.
Migrant dancers
A HIP-HOP dance team formed by 15 migrant workers in Shenzhen performed at the China Central Television (CCTV) Spring Festival Gala on Feb. 2, Chinese Lunar New Year s Eve. Most of the team members, all aged around 20, are migrants working in construction and restaurants in Fuyong Subdistrict, Bao an District. The CCTV gala, viewed by millions of people each year, is essential viewing on Chinese New Year s Eve.
Tour group stranded
A 21-MEMBER tour group from China International Travel Service Shenzhen Co. was stranded in Cairns on Thursday when Cyclone Yasi swept through northeastern Australia. Eight other packaged tour groups from the travel agency which were scheduled to visit Queensland were forced to change their itineraries. No injuries were reported.
