From now on, no crushing the Falun Gong or Tibetan “opposition.” And no invasions of Taiwan. But Beijing faces other, less obvious challenges. First, it must deal with its rapidly increasing traffic problem, and follow through on its proposed plans: five new subway lines, 228km of new roads and a magnetic-levitation train to the Great Wall are all to be built by 2008.
Pollution is another dark cloud over the city. Beijing has vowed that its water and air quality will meet World Health Organization standards by 2008. Among other measures, many factories must be altered or destroyed and businesses will have to switch from coal to gas. And what about sanitation? Beijing has already embarked on a “Toilet Revolution,” a plan to build 64 “four-star toilet facilities” in the city.
Then there are Beijing’s 3 million rural migrants. The current policy would be to round them up and temporarily kick them out of the city–just to keep them out of sight. The same applies to beggars and vagrants. That sort of abusive tactic just won’t cut it under the global media glare.
Last, tourist appetites must be whetted, so easy on the dogs, please. The Swiss group Lobbyists for St. Bernards was vehemently opposed to Beijing’s bid. St. Bernards are considered “best-quality meat dogs” by Chinese diners because of their size and resistance to disease, according to the group. Beijing should mimic Seoul, when it hosted the 1988 Olympics, and ban dog meat. Then the question will be whether local restaurants observe the ban or not.
The foreign investors are lining up to help Beijing get ready; some executives of Canadian companies supported Beijing over Toronto because of the lucrative contracts on offer. And Beijing does want to bask in the international prestige that it thinks it deserves. But can the Chinese capital stay on best behavior, and in good cheer, for seven long years? The world will be watching.
