Shenzhen municipal government announced on Thursday that 15 million telephone cards worth of 1.5 billion yuan (US$221 million) will go to Shenzhen citizens on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone establishment, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

Every Shenzhen citizen will receive a calling card worth of 100 yuan (US$15) this year. "Those free cards encourage citizens to share happiness toward our city's development with others and are worth keeping," said Wang Yi, secretary of the municipal Party committee.

During the anniversary celebration, government leaders will also visit and invite senior residents who contributed to the early city development and poverty-stricken citizens to attend celebration activities. Municipal government has encouraged employees to take paid leave on August 27.

Shenzhen, once a small fishing village, was singled out as China's first Special Economic Zone in 1980. Now it ranked fourth in GDP among mainland cities in 2009.

(China Daily August 20, 2010)