Express delivery companies could face fines of up to 100,000 yuan ($14,820), or could even be shut down, for leaking customers' personal data, according to a draft regulation that aims to make the industry more secure. Companies would also be required to store waybills and any electronic data in a suitable management system and destroy it after a set period of time. Fines of up to 20,000 yuan would be assessed for illegal activities that challenge the security, interests or rights of the country or its citizens, or for actions such as opening or hiding people's packages. The draft regulation, released for public feedback by the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office, states that compensation should be paid to customers for delayed, lost or damaged parcels. The draft marks the first time the real-name registration system has been mentioned in legislation. It stipulates that customers must provide their name, address and contact details to use delivery services. "The regulation fully protects the legitimate interests of all parties concerned, sets proper industry standards and shows our courier companies how to develop information technology," a senior employee at STO Express, a major Chinese courier, who asked not to be identified, said on Tuesday. According to data from People's Daily, the number of cases of leaked and stolen personal data in China remains high. From March to July alone, more than 1,800 cases of infringement and hacking of residents' personal information were reported nationwide. More than 4,800 suspects were arrested and the personal information of about 5 million people was seized. Companies are said to be the main source of the leaks. "The protection of customers' information is an essential responsibility of a courier company," the STO Express employee said. "The official destruction of waybills and personal information is under the supervision of the authorities now, though it is costly. We need more cooperation between government departments and more mature technology to reduce the cost." The regulation has received general support from the public. "My waybill can show a lot, like my consumption habits, home address and telephone numbers, which could be worth a fortune but very dangerous if sold to strangers," said Li Lu, a postgraduate student at University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. "The regulation is necessary for my security." "Also," she said, "I've received many delayed and damaged parcels, due to either violent transport or just being stuck in transit centers caused by strikes, which is horrible for customers. With the new regulation, courier companies will be more responsible for all deliveries." Cao Chen in Shanghai contributed to this story. fabric festival wristbandsjordan wristbandslap wristbandswide rubber bands
Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan [Photo/China Daily] Singapore welcomes Chinese companies to submit bids on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail, Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan has said. In a written interview with China Daily, he said Singapore recognizes China's experience and expertise. The international request for bids, to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, will be jointly put out by Singapore and Malaysia later this year, he said. The minister, in an official visit to China from Sunday to Monday, noted that the project aims to improve connectivity among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Regarding the Belt and Road Initiative, Balakrishnan called Singapore an early and strong supporter and said China and Singapore can work together to add value to the initiative. The two countries can further consider the joint provision of training for officials from the Belt and Road countries, and encourage think tanks to conduct joint research on topics related to the Belt and Road, he said. Singapore has been China's largest foreign investor as well as China's top trading partner within ASEAN. Singapore will continue to support Chinese companies as more venture abroad, he said. Speaking of bilateral ties, he said Singapore and China share a close and longstanding friendship, and this partnership also reflects the long term strength of our bilateral ties and the bright prospects for the future. While the two countries have their respective national interests, there are no fundamental strategic disagreements, he said. We both need regional peace and stability. We both depend on free and open trade, he added. On China-ASEAN ties, Balakrishnan said ASEAN's strategic partnership with China is strong, substantive and multifaceted, and both sides need to boost two-way tourist visits and promote people-to-people exchanges. We will continue to actively advance ASEAN-China relations in the remaining year of our ASEAN-China coordinatorship, part of which will coincide with Singapore's Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2018, he said. We look forward to working closely with our ASEAN colleagues and with China to bring the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership to greater heights, he added. On the South China Sea issue, the minister said the South China Sea situation has been calm and there have been no major disruptions in the past year, and the complicated issue must be resolved by the claimant states themselves. Singapore is glad to be able to contribute effectively to the good progress made on the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, signed by China and ASEAN members in 2002, and the consultations on the Code of Conduct thus far, he said. I welcome the progress made by our officials in finalizing the framework for the COC in Guiyang last month, he said.
