1. Shanghai Oriental Satellite TV: Living in Shanghai, Chinese people from outside the city are required to register for residence, with those qualified required to apply for Shanghai residence card. Can you tell me the requirements for such a card?

Jiao Yang: There are two key requirements: out-of-towners with stable jobs and residences are qualified to apply for the card.

2. Shanghai Daily: It is reported that the procedures to get Shanghai residence cards will be simplified. How will they be simplified? Compared with the interim residence regulations issued in June 2002 to introduce highly-qualified personnel, are there any new preferential policies in the new regulation?

Jiao Yang: The procedures to apply for a residence card are very simple: applicants only need to offer their relevant certifications to the community affairs centers where they live. The centers will then send their certifications to certain authorities for one-stop services, which will largely save applicants time and energy, and improve the government efficiency.
The difference between the original and new residence system is this: the one issued in June 2002 mainly applied to highly-qualified personnel but the new regulation applies to all the domestic permanent residents from outside the city. The residence cards issued in the light of the original regulations are still valid, and renewing the cards will be based on the new regulations. Moreover, the highly-qualified personnel can enjoy not only the new regulations but also the original ones. You can consult the details on our government website.

3. Shanghai Television Station News Channel: You have just mentioned that after the interim regulations were issued in June 2002, several relevant certificates would be gradually combined into a residence card. Can you tell me whether the relevant certificates include temporary residence cards and green cards for expatriates? How long will the combination take?

Jiao Yang: First of all, we should exclude the green cards for expatriates, as the interim regulation applies only to Chinese people. The interim regulations, based on the people-oriented principal, will combine several certificates into a residence card which covers the functions of all the other cards including the temporary residence card. But for the time being, the temporary card should be adopted together with the residence card.

4. Shanghai Morning Post: Are there any concrete requirements for model workers to lease economy housing units? How has Shanghai implemented the August 31 regulation issued by the Ministry of land and Resources in March, which stipulated that land owners obtaining land via agreement transfer must get land-use certificates and development licenses by August 31, and development should be started within two years after trading or the government would take the land back and put the land on the market for auctions and public tendering.

Jiao Yang: Top priority for leasing economy housing units will be given to retired model workers with per capita living area of less than seven square meters and per capita income lower than the minimum salary level in the city.
Shanghai will adhere to the policies issued by the central government to take a firm grip on land supply and trading, with land transfers for business purposes included in the public bidding system. According to the latest statistics, by the end of last year, Shanghai had transferred nearly 3,670 hectares of land to developers for business purposes and the development hadn't been started yet due to residents relocating, authority application or plan adjustment. Shanghai will adopt many measures to control the volume of development while making full use of the undeveloped existing lands and investigating the reasons for delay. Developers with many existing lands will be prevented from participating in land bidding while being urged to develop their existing lands and offer them to the market as soon as possible.

5.  Phoenix TV: In the government audit report published in late August, some problems are revealed.  Has the government taken concrete measures to tackle them?  Meanwhile, economic surveys have been carried in many cities, has Shanghai taken one?  If so, have you encountered major problems or difficulties so far?

Jiao Yang: In mid August, The Shanghai Audit Bureau submitted a work report to The Shanghai Standing Committee of NPC.  This has been covered in newspapers.  As for the problems recovered in the audit, governments at all levels have attached high importance to them and are taking concrete measures to resolve them or improve the situations. 

The measures vary depending on the situations of each department.  But we have a common understanding: governments and officials of all levels must bear it in mind that we should take responsibilities for the people and seek financial benefits for the people.  We must strictly regulate the budget and improve the budget management skills.  We believe reinforcement of audit and supervision of budgets is an essential way to develop an efficient, honest, diligent and law-abiding government.  That's why we pay such close attention to the results of the audit and the audit work itself.

Through this audit, governments at all levels must take measures to improve their work.  They must further enhance the awareness of law, ensuring budget making before expending, and improving capital efficiency.  We will advise reporters promptly if new progress is made.

As to the economic survey, it is underway in Shanghai, as in other areas across the nation.  So far as I know, it is going along smoothly.

6.  China Business (newspaper):  My first question is about the compulsory dismantling of Shanghai Pubao Co.  On July 21, Putuo District's urban administration group forcefully dismantled Pubao, an issue that has resulted in clashes and violence.  We've interviewed officials with Putuo District Government. The sources said that the local government has reported the case to the Information Office of the municipal government.  Can you give a detailed explanation?

The second question.  I've followed an inspection tour to some middle schools and heard many complaints about the extra charges, or so-called "school option fee", for students who don't' go to the government appointed school and choose another one to attend by themselves.  It's said that there are five levels of these charges in Shanghai.  The charges for out-of-town students will go as high as 50,000 yuan.  Do you have any information about it?

Jiao Yang:  I don't know whom you are asking about in your first question.  Neither have I read such reports.  But I have noticed the report in your newspaper and have checked with related departments for the issue. 

According to the information I've got, the city's government department made a special inspection in March of the implementation of the green belt planning program along the Outer Ring Road and conducted checks with each district.  This was strictly carried out according to the spirit of Shanghai's planning work meeting.  No one should ever infringe on it. 

During the inspection, some illegal construction projects were found in the class A control section of the Outer Ring Road Greenbelt.  Checks uncovered that these structures are the 2,200-odd square meters of standard workshops built by the company you've mentioned.  The project has no license for the construction. 

According to "the Shanghai Urban Planning Regulations" and "the Year 2002 released Shanghai Round City Greenbelt Regulations", government departments decided to dismantle the buildings and organized the dismantling.

As to the high school students' school options issue, I've checked it with related departments and know that the regulation for high school students to choose state-run schools started in 2001.  The work must follow the three limit principles on charges, the number of students and the academic scores of the students. 

I've learned that the option charges fall in four categories: 40,000 yuan for lodging high schools, 30,000 yuan for city-level key schools, 20,000 yuan for district-level key schools and 10,000 yuan for common schools. 

Generally speaking, students go to the school that is appointed by the government as the nearest to their homes. In 2003, of the 103,100 students enrolled to local high schools, 8,926 were the so-called "school option students".  In 2004, of the 104,100 students enrolled, 8,584 are "school option students", a ratio lower than the previous year.

Enrollment of "school option students" is carried out under the guidance of the city's educational commission.  In this way, the illegal collection of fees has been effectively halted.

Shanghai has invested a large amount of money and property to build a group of good quality lodging high schools. These schools will increase the enrollment of students from the outside on a trial basis.  These schools, serving the nation with excellent education resources, have earned high praise from other provinces and cities.  But what's notable is that this out-of-city enrollment system is still on a trial basis.

7. Lianhe Zaobao(Singapore): I would like to learn more about the new residency guidelines. What's the significance of the new guidelines? Does it aim to manage the increasingly larger floating population, or encourage non-natives to work here? Secondly: China has recently begun to grant foreigners permanent residence. What's the progress on its implementation here? Currently, few foreigners qualify for a green card. Will the city expand the qualifications in the future?  

Jiao Yang: The new regulations will help to improve our management of the floating population and to offer residents better service. By the end of 2003, Shanghai had 13.42 million permanent residents and a non-native population of 3.83 million. Such a large population poses a real challenge to the municipal government's management skills. According to rules issued in 2002, temporary Shanghai residence cards are currently only available to non-natives with high-level skills. By extending the  qualifications limit, we hope to find a way to fight off the challenge. Moreover, the new rules are also in accordance with the country's reform of its residency policy. As a result of its reform in the hukou or household registration system, China is now undergoing a shift from the registration of people based on place of birth to a social security system linked to the place of work. The latter has been widely adopted across the world.  
In answer to your second question, the green card system and the new residency guidelines are totally different. The former is aimed at the country's expatriates, while the latter applies to Chinese people from outside the city. China has recently issued Regulations on the Examination and Approval of the Permanent Residence of Aliens. Set up by the central government, the green card system allows foreign nationals to apply for permanent residence in the country. The Shanghai Public Security Bureau began to accept applications as of August 23. Among all the applicants, 24 expatriates are qualified so far.

8. Radio Shanghai: The new residency guidelines will go into effect on October 1. Since the Chinese Golden Week begins on the same day, does that mean applicants have to wait until October 8? How long will applications take to approve? What's the cost of getting a temporary residence card?

Jiao Yang: The new rules stipulate that the applications will take 20 working days to approve. The reasons will be given if your application is denied. However, the actual application process may be prolonged because the information system, which is used to collect and process the applications, is being improved. The application process is expected to be completed within 20 working days as of next year.

9. Shanghai Evening Post: You have just mentioned that any non-native who owns a residence in the city and has a stable occupation can apply for a residence card. Now to my question. Are the application procedures the same for people with high-level skills---such as an engineer---and people with low-level skills---such as a vendor? Secondly: What are the specific requirements to apply for residence cards with different terms of validity?

Jiao Yang: All those who apply for residence cards will be treated the same. However, imported talents, usually people with high-level skills, will be given additional rights besides those offered by the residence cards. 
In answer to your second question, non-native residents who have signed a local employment contract for more than six months and a home lease for more than half a year can apply for the card. The cards will be valid for one year, three years or five years depending on the applicants' conditions. Usually, cards will be valid for one year. Only the imported talents will be granted three to five years' residence. Card holders can renew their residency once it runs out.

10. The journalist from Jie Fang Daily asked : What's the number of  retired model workers in Shanghai now? And how many of them are finding things difficulty?  Thank you.

 Jiao Yang : There are more than 8,000 retired model workers in
Shanghai, many of whose monthly pension is between 800  to 900 Yuan.  This is lower than the city average of 936 Yuan.   Recognizing their difficulties, the municipal government has decided to increase the pension of retired model workers to a minimum of 1,000 Yuan.  If a worker's pension is lower than this standard, the balance will be added by the government.

11. Shanghai Morning Post:  Shanghai is going to carry out "Regulations of the Shanghai Municipality on the Administration of Residence Leases", according to which,  the lease holders should make a tax declaration to the local administrative center.  Does that mean they need to pay tax on residence leases from now on? What is the paying standard? And what impact will the Regulations have on the residence lease market in Shanghai?  Thank you.

Jiao Yang : The residence lease holder should pay tax according to the relative laws.  Temporary Shanghai leasers should check in by operation of
certain regulations.  The point is that the lease holder not the leaser should pay the tax, which has been listed specifically as Item 5 in the Regulation.

12. Oriental Morning Post: According to regulations established in 2002,  talents introduced from outside Shanghai could enjoy "the Three Allowances" including a retirement pension; the dole and hospitalization insurance or additional  housing funds; and their children could also use the Shanghai edition exams for university entrance.  So, could people holding Shanghai residence identifications also enjoy the treatments mentioned above?  Thank you.

Jiao Yang : The talents introduced from outside Shanghai enjoy the
regulations implemented both in 2002 and now.  Those persons who are
not part of the talents introduced from outside Shanghai are not eligible
for the regulations of June2002.
Allowances to the residence identification holders are divided into three parts.  The first part is the public services regulated by the state law while still in need of the support from the local finance.  For example, educational expenditures for their children, family planning and epidemic prevention etc.   The second part is the citizens basic allowance obtained through self-endeavors or from the employers, for instance, exam appraisement, public appraisal, science and technology declaration and social insurance.  The last part is the service providing conveniences to life and work, such as the transaction of all kinds of certificates. The residence identification related allowance regulations are dynamic and will be adjusted, enriched and consummated promptly.

13. Shanghai Oriental Television: could you please give an example to explain how the municipal government tries to decrease medical fees for a  citizen finding difficulty in life.

Jiao Yang : The core of the general decrease is to combine the ability to  pay the personal responsible medical fee with the real income of those persons participating in the medical insurance.   The part of the personal responsible medical fee that exceeds a certain proportion of the total income could be decreased.   There are five applicable conditions.  Firstly, if the yearly income of the on-the-job citizen is below the minimum wage of last year while his yearly total personal responsible medical fee is  above 30% of his yearly income, the overspending could be decreased. 
Secondly, if the yearly income of the on-the-job citizen is between the minimum wage and the 1.5 times of the minimum while his yearly total personal responsible medical fee is above 40%  of his yearly income, the overspending could be decreased.  Thirdly, if the yearly income of the on-the-job citizen is between the 1.5 to 3 times the minimum wage while his yearly total personal responsible medical fee is above 50% of his yearly
income, the overspending could be decreased.  Fourthly, if the basic
pension of the retired person is below the minimum wage of last year while the yearly total personal responsible medical fee is above 30% of his pension, the overspending could be decreased.  Lastly, if the basic pension of the retired person is above the minimum wage of last year while the yearly total personal responsible medical fee is above 40% of his pension, the overspending could be decreased.  The decreased proportion is up to 90%.