Society

Better Discretion for Children Living with HIV/AIDS

It is now prohibited to publish information about children infected with HIV/AIDS without the approval of guardians， according to a recent circular jointly issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission， the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Other information that may be used to deduce the identity of these children is also barred. Those who leak such information will face legal consequences.

The three authorities also called for better treatment and mental care for children infected with HIV/ AIDS. Hospitals and medical units are forbidden to shirk or refuse treatment to children living with the virus.

The circular also stressed the childrens rights to receive education. Local authorities are required to improve the education subsidy system and ensure that infected children do not drop out because of poverty. They are also required to provide a subsistence allowance to AIDS orphans and children with the virus.

Wetlands in Sharp Decline

The second national survey of wetland resources by the State Forestry Administration found that over the past decade the total area of Chinas wetlands dwindled by 3.3963 million hectares， equivalent to the size of Hainan Province. This steep decline is primarily attributed to human activities and alteration in wetland functions. Major culprits include pollution， excessive fishing and collection， reclamation， invasive species and capital construction. Experts and conservationists call for a national law to protect wetlands and other threatened ecosystems.

Three Gorges Power Output Sets World Record

Chinas Three Gorges Corporation announced that the Three Gorges Power Plant generated 98.8 billion kwh of electricity in 2014， beating the world record for hydropower generation set by Brazils Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant. The company said 98.8 billion kwh is equivalent to saving 49 million tons of coal consumption and preventing 100 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The Three Gorges Power Plant， the worlds largest hydropower station， has an installed capacity of 22.5 million kw.

Cross-border Efforts to Tackle Corruption

China will strengthen financial intelligence exchanges with the United States and Australia to track corrupt Chinese officialsillegal assets and fight money laundering， a senior official from the Ministry of Justice said.endprint

The Peoples Bank of China is in discussions with the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network， a bureau under the U.S. Treasury Department that monitors financial transactions to fight crime. Preparations are being made for a bilateral agreement to target the overseas assets of Chinese suspects. The central bank will also sign a similar agreement with the Australian Financial Intelligence Unit.

After the agreements are made， China will share intelligence with the U.S. and Australia， which will also offer information to their enforcement agencies to conduct further investigations.

More than half of the known corrupt Chinese officials have transferred their illegal assets offshore and escaped to the U.S.， Canada and Australia to avoid punishment， the Ministry of Public Security said.

Between 1990 and 2011， more than 18，000 corrupt officials fled overseas with over RMB 800 billion （US $128.5 billion）， figures from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences show.endprint