'Color-blind' officials paint new picture of old problem

The authorities of Sanhe, Langfang city, Hebei province, are caught up in a whirling vortex these days after they enforced a sweeping ban prohibiting shop signs, advertisement boards or other public signs using the colors of black, red and blue.

The local government has instructed that the three colors be replaced with green, a color that local officials claim gives the county a more international look. So even the red cross used to identify clinics and hospitals has been changed to green.

Despite the wide complaints of the shop owners who think the authorities have gone too far with this absurd move, local officials insist they have just carried out a policy of the county.