People view models of buildings at the
Jilin Real Estate Fair in Jilin, a city in northeast China's Jilin
Province, Aug. 24, 2007. The fair, opened on Friday, attracted many
visitors. (Xinhua/Zhu Wanchang)
China's top legislature began deliberating a draft amendment to
the law on urban real estate administration on Friday to authorize
the State Council to detail specific measures for orderly
expropriation of urban houses and apartments.
Forceful evictions of urban residents for new urban developments
have incited protests and conflicts, and have been condemned across
the country. To equally protect both people's private property
rights and the public interest, the country's new Property Law, to
be effective in October, entitles the government to the right of
expropriation only for the public interests.
But it said that the government can only do so "in accordance
with the rights and procedures as stipulated by the law." It also
stressed that due compensations shall be paid and habitation of
relevant individuals must be guaranteed.
As the existing regulations by the State Council on urban
expropriation run contradictory with the Property Law and will be
nullified, new regulations covering the rampant evictions in urban
areas must be in place in time, Wang Guangdao, minister of
construction, told legislators today.
Thus the State Council suggests that the legislature amend the
law on urban real estate administration and authorize the State
Council to issue new regulations on procedures and rights of local
governments in expropriation operations, Wang explained.
Lawmakers also said that it is the first step taken by the
government to revise related laws and regulations to pave the way
for the implementation of the Property Law which was adopted in
March.
The landmark Property Law aims to grant equal protection to
state, collective and private properties.
The Supreme People's Court (SPC) said that it will also
promulgate judicial interpretations on Property Law this year.
(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2007)
