CHINA-INTERNAL: HUKOU REFORM
|
China's household registration, or 'hukou' system, is being reformed. According to a circular issued on July 30, the reform will end the dual-household registration system which has divided people into urban or agricultural households since the 1950s. The Vice Minister of Public Security, Huang Ming said that differentiated approaches will be applied in the hukou system, based on the size and population of a city. The authorities will set no limits for those who want to settle in small cities and towns. "Anyone who has a legal residence can register for permanent residence, even temporary tenants," Huang said. Medium-sized cities with a population between one million and three million will have a low threshold, while megacities with more than five million residents will strictly control the influx of new citizens. People wishing to settle in megacities like Beijing and Shanghai will have to qualify through a "points system" based on their seniority in employment, their accommodation and social security,
|