Shantung mayor cancels visit

Shantung mayor cancels visit

SURABAYA: The mayor of China's Shantung city has canceled a
visit to the East Java capital of Surabaya due to security
concerns, the chairman of the Chinese Community Association, Lim
Oei Yen, said on Sunday.

The cancellation was faxed to the Chinese Embassy here
following the bombings on the tourist island of Bali on Saturday
night, which killed 182 people and injured hundreds more, mostly
foreigners.

The Shantung mayor was scheduled to meet the East Java
governor on Oct. 27 to discuss further cooperation between the
two administrations.

"We have tried to explain that Surabaya is not Bali. But they
answer that even Bali, which was thought to be safe, was hit by
bombs. So they fear such an incident could take place while they
are here," Lim was quoted by Antara as saying on the sidelines of
the inauguration of Muhammad Cheng Hoo Mosque.

The mosque was named after the Chinese marshall who became a
Muslim preacher. He spread Muslim teachings to Java island around
1405. --Antara