New rules to control foreign investment in China's property
market have been agreed, following concern that surging foreign
speculation in the market is forcing up house prices.
Shanghai-based China Business News yesterday reported
that six government bodies including the Ministry of Construction
and Ministry of Commerce have signed an agreement on a rule to
regulate overseas capital in the property market.
Foreign firms or individuals will have to use their real names
when buying residential houses. And foreigners will not be allowed
to buy residential housing that is not for their "own use or own
habitation."
"The measure provides a premise for the government to impose a
property tax, which is very popular in most developed countries,"
said Xu Dianqing, professor with the China Center for Economic
Research of Peking University.
"A property tax would demand a register of names, and it would
be the best way to restrain speculation on the property market," he
said.
The rule also requires foreign businesses or individuals buying
Chinese property not for their own use to set up a China-registered
company to handle the purchase.
The measures are believed to make it easier for the government
to monitor the flow of overseas capital into the property
market.
"Although there has always been a claim that foreign capital
pushes up prices, both the government and research department in
fact lack detailed data on this," said Yu Zhiyong, an analyst with
Shenzhen-based China Merchants Securities. "The name register will
give them a clearer picture."
Foreign-funded property firms investing more than US$10 million
will need to hold registered capital equal to no less than 50
percent of the value of the investment, potentially a huge hurdle
for many firms.
The measure is aimed at preventing those who do not have
adequate capital from speculating in the market.
"Currently, if a foreign-funded property firm does not have
adequate money to invest in the property market, it would borrow
from Chinese commercial banks, which in turn transfer the risk to
domestic banks," Xu said.
"With the measure setting such high entrance standards, domestic
banks are protected from these potential risks," he said.
Xu added that the public should consider the move to be a
restriction on foreign capital entering the property market.
According to the rule, investors with registered capital less
than 35 percent of the total value of a project, or who fail to
obtain a land-use certificate, will not be allowed to borrow from
domestic or foreign lenders.
The transfer of projects or stakes in foreign-funded property
firms and the acquisition of domestic property companies must be
approved by the government.
(China Daily July 18, 2006)