Official report on CCTV building fire

Beijing Youth Daily
December 21, 2009

Today's Beijing Youth Daily fronts with headline and photo of Chinese president Hu Jintao and newly appointed Macao Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on (崔世安) at a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the handover of the former Portuguese colony to the People's Republic.

From The China Daily:

Looking ahead, Hu urged Macao to be creative and work more closely with the Pearl River Delta region.

The region should be "strengthening and improving the management of the gambling industry, diversifying the economy and lifting living standards," he said.

The president also hoped the region would improve its education system and pointed out yesterday that "talent is the key to continuously enhance Macao's competitiveness".

Fernando Chui Sai-on, who assumed chief executive of Macao yesterday from Edmund Ho, agreed.

More newsworthy is the story on the front page about the CCTV building (the TVCC hotel building next to the more famous overhanging arch) that burned to a crisp almost a year ago when a firework display arranged by CCTV to celebrate the Lantern Festival went wrong.

According to the article, a report the State Administration of Work Safety has prepared a report about the fire. The report has been submitted the State Council for approval before it is published.

The article confirms that the building is to be rebuilt. The article also says that 14 people were arrested on suspicion of violations in handling dangerous substances shortly after the fire, and that in recent days 15 people have been arrested from Shengxing Wall Company that was in charge of constructing the exterior walls. Other people from the company responsible for the fireworks and from CCTV have also been arrested in connection with the investigation.