GUANGZHOU: More efforts will be made to keep the provincial capital of Guangdong safer this year, the city's mayor said yesterday.

In his government work report to the deputies of the annual municipal people's congress, Zhang Guangning said the city government will put the safety of its citizens as its top priority and boost public security and social order.

"Among other things, Guangzhou will keep an iron-handed approach against gang-related crimes as well as crimes of severe violence, while continuing efforts aimed at social evils such as prostitution, gambling and drug addiction," the mayor said.