Shenzhen has unveiled guidelines on promoting a sustainable economy in the city over the next two years with the city's top officials vowing to build Shenzhen into an innovation-based metropolis, yesterday's Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

Independent innovation is a vital source for the development of a sustainable economy while the development of a sustainable economy needs support from technological innovation, said Li Hongzhong, secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC, at a conference held at the weekend.

Under the new regulations, the threshold will be lowered for local residents setting up innovative enterprises. Start-ups with a registered capital of more than 30,000 yuan (US$3,704) will be allowed to operate. The companies can even work from a residential compound as long as they can get approval from the apartment owners and proprietors' council.

A citywide ban will be imposed on disposable tableware and products that cannot be recycled will be phased out at department stores, hotels, airport, bus stations, docks, parks and tourist destinations, according to the new rules.

The city will also give incentives for the treatment and reuse of sewage water and encourage the use of seawater in flushing toilets.

To conserve energy, lighting on the city's streets will be subject to restrictions such as the dimming of street lights, and decorative lighting used only during holidays and on Fridays and Saturdays.

Editor: Yan