One of the most important issues in Vladivostok today is the future of the tram. In accordance with the latest decisions of the mayoral administration, the tram rails are to be removed from Svetlanskaya Street and from the distance between Lugovaya and Balyaeva, in spite the integrated program of development of the municipal passenger transport which had been approved ten years ago. This idea also contradicts a recent governmental concept, which states that electrical and ecologically compatible trans port must be the priority in all cities with population of more than 150,000. In Vladivostok, 72% of passengers used electrical transport in 1997. Moreover, free travel was one of the mayoral trump cards during this past election campaign (in spite of a mayoral 36-billion ruble debt to the Trams and Trolleys municipal company.

The Krai administrational Ad Hoc for the organization of international cargo transit through Primorye discussed the readiness of a trial expedition of two container trains from Primorye to Germany through TranSIberian Railroad, which is set for May. Vic e Governor Belchyuk told about a recent Russian-Japanese meeting on cargo transportation, involving participants from Poland, Byelorussia and Germany, which tried to decide on railroad cargo transportation from Japan to Germany which can be twice as fast as sea transportation. Those who strongly objected were Japanese businessmen: they required an expediter to accompany the cargo during the trip.

There are some half million adult inhabitants in Vladivostok, who, in accordance to a new law, can now be owners of land. Nevertheless, only some 7,000 people have certificates for the possession of private land lots. 265 land transactions were registe red in 1997, with an average price of $200-$400 per "sotka" (hundredth part) in Trydovoye (not far from Artyom) and $1,000 in Sedanka, Okeanskaya and Sadgorod. One of the allotments in downtown Vladivostok is currently available at $300,000 per hundredt h part.

China remains the main tourist partner of the Krai. Officially, Primorians have exported some $400 million to China in 1997. Shop tourism in the Chinese markets has yielded to sanative and educational tourism for the Chinese resorts and sport camps, wher e one can have a rest for a more reasonable sum than here in Russia.

The mayoral administration has established a new tax to be imposed on non-residents staying in Vladivostok, "a city of resorts." The tax amounts to 5% of the minimum monthly wage (currently some 80 rubles) and is supposed to be paid within three days o f arriving here. If you stay at a hotel, the tax will be included in your bill. If you stay with friends or pass the night in a car, you will be required to pay the tax at a bank. (This week's Friday issue)

A Swedish company Glencore International, which holds 54% of the DalPolyMetal capital shares, is ready to hand over a portion of its controlling shares to the Krai administration, in order to allow it to enter the Board of Directors.