The per capita disposable income of Shenzhen residents remains the highest on China's mainland, according to the latest figure released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

Shenzhen had topped the income list for more than 10 consecutive years, said Wang Youjuan, an official with the bureau.

The per capita disposable income of Shenzhen residents was 12,373 yuan (US$1,509) in the first half of this year, 4,592 (US$555.45) yuan more than that of Guangzhou, which ranks second on the income list.

Wang attributed the high income of Shenzhen residents to the city's economic boom and welfare reform. Although economic growth has slowed in recent years, the income of Shenzhen residents remains high because of its sound economic foundation.

Shenzhen has introduced housing, car use and social insurance reforms, which resulted in the payment of allowances, greatly raising the income levels of Shenzhen residents.

Ningbo is the only medium-sized city that enters the top 10 income list, with its residents' disposable income similar to that of Beijing residents.

The average disposable income of urban residents was 4,301 yuan (US$520.25) for the first six months, up 9 percent on the same period of last year. The actual increase was 8.4 percent after inflation.

(Shenzhen Daily August 4, 2003)