4. Income taxes (Details) ¥ in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014 CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Profit/(loss before) income taxes/(benefit): The PRC and Hong Kong		$ (879)		$ (157)		$ 13
The provision for income taxes consists of:
Current tax expenses: The PRC and Hong Kong		8		47		117
Total current provision		8		47		117
Deferred tax benefit: The PRC and Hong Kong		10		26		25
Total deferred provision		$ 10		$ 26		$ 25
ZHEJIANG TIANLAN
The provision for income taxes consists of:
Current PRC EIT Domestic \| ¥	¥ 2,159		¥ 3,110		¥ 1,650
Total current provision \| ¥	2,159		3,110		1,650
Deferred tax benefit: \| ¥	(1,391)		(447)		784
Total deferred provision \| ¥	¥ (1,391)		¥ (447)		¥ 784

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to taxable income (loss) from continuing operations.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Current Tax Expense (or Benefit)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509736

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I.7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 6
-Section I
-Subsection 7

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration