China launches electronic passports

 　　BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday began issuing a new type of passport featuring an electronic chip that contains the holder's personal information.

　　Meng Hongwei, vice¹ minister of public security, said at a launching ceremony for the passport that it was designed according to international standards, featuring anti-counterfeiting technology and "intelligent chips" that will bring greater convenience to passport holders².

　　The passports are expected to simplify border control procedures by allowing for easier identification.

　　The new passports have the same appearance as traditional ones, but also feature an inserted electronic chip that records the holder's name, date of birth, photo and fingerprints³, according to a previous statement issued by the Ministry⁴ of Public Security on May 3.

　　Holders of traditional passports will be able to continue using them as long as they remain valid⁵, the statement said.

　　The number of passports issued annually⁶ by China has increased sharply from 1 million in the mid-1990s to 10 million now, with an annual average growth of 20 percent. About 38 million Chinese hold passports.

　　Last year saw 20.3 million exits by Chinese residents, a significant increase from 4.73 million in 2000.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 holders   

支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物

参考例句：

• Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
• It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。

3 fingerprints   

n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Everyone's fingerprints are unique. 每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
• They wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind (them). 他们戴着手套，以免留下指纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

6 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。