Two million urged to exit host city with tourist vouchers

CHINA is leaving nothing to chance when it stages its first G20 summit this weekend, with airtight security, strict environmental rules, and an exodus of citizens from the host city helping to ensure the showcase event is delivered smoothly.

Around two million of Hangzhou’s six million residents will leave before world leaders, including Theresa May, arrive for the two-day summit.

The exodus, which authorities hope will ensure a traffic-free, uncrowded city during the event, has been encouraged by the government, which is reported to have handed out 10 billion yuan (£1.13 billion) in tourism vouchers that citizens can spend across the wider region during a seven-day holiday in the eastern Chinese city.

China’s biggest travel agency, Ctrip, has already handed out more than 200,000 vouchers, containing 500 yuan (£57), state media said. Taxis are also being ordered off the streets, with drivers receiving a subsidy of 800 yuan (£91) per day.

A volunteer army of more than a million people will remain in the city, with many monitoring for security issues.

One to two security guards or police officers were positioned every five to 10 metres at popular attractions in the run-up to the event, the state-run said, adding that manholes had been labelled “exclusively for the G20 security check”.

Safety is also being ensured for the huge supplies of food that will be eaten by visitors at the summit, Chinese media said.

“Not a grain of unsafe rice or a drop of oil will make its way to the storehouses,” an official told chinanews.com in a report which detailed how a 7,450-square metre facility had been erected to store 900 tons of food.

Authorities are taking no chances in ensuring blue skies for the summit, shutting down polluting industries across a wide area.