Shenzhen will step up efforts to limit the total number of its
long-term residents to 9 million by 2010.
"Shenzhen has seen the number of its long-term residents exceed
8.46 million at the of 2006 and it has already become one of most
populated cities in the country with a population density now
trailing only Hong Kong and Tokyo," Shenzhen's mayor, Xu Zongheng,
said.
"We hope that by expediting the optimization process of the
city's industry structure we can limit the number of its long-term
residents to 9 million during the 11th Five- Year Plan."
According to a latest government report, the number of
Shenzhen's long-term residents totaled 8.4643 million at the end of
2006 with its population density growing to 4,239 people per
kilometer, more than three times Guangdong's capital city Guangzhou.
Xu is supported by the director of the Shenzhen Academy of
Social Sciences, Le Zheng, who said that optimizing the city's
industry structure was "the key" to controlling Shenzhen's rapid
population growth.
"Shenzhen's population density has already exceeded other key
cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and it is now
placing a burden on space, Le said.
He said "to solve this problem Shenzhen should adjust its
industry structure from labor-intensified to high-end
industries".
Tang Jie, secretary-general of the Shenzhen municipal
government, agreed with Le. He said Shenzhen should rely not only
on administrative means, but also re-adjustment of its enterprise
structure to control its population.
"We will provide favorable policies to high-end industries such
as those that are technology-oriented and capital-intensified to
reduce the demand for low-skilled workers," Tang said.
Li Luoli, secretary-general of the Shenzhen Institute of
Comprehensive Research and Development, also said that adjusting
Shenzhen's industry structure was the "right way" for the city to
solve its population problem.
"Shenzhen could consider eliminating some labor-intensified
enterprises. This would help ease the population pressure," Li
said.
Zheng Zizhen, director of the population research institute of
Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences, said Shenzhen should
establish a specific working body to formulate concrete population
management policies.
"Besides, Shenzhen could also draw up its own regulations for
residents based on market practices," Zhen said.
"Regulations should state clearly what criteria people must meet
to reside in Shenzhen. Those qualified should be allowed to stay,
and those not qualified, must leave.
"This way, the city's population growth will be better
controlled and the overall quality of its residents improved."
A former visiting professor with Shenzhen University, Yang
Sizhong, said: "Increasing Shenzhen's living costs such as
apartment rents, transportation, water and electricity charges, and
food prices appropriately is an effective way to control the city's
population.
"Compared with other cities of the same development level in the
world, Shenzhen's cost of living is still very low. Increasing it
will help keep those who cannot afford it from moving to the
city."
(China Daily May 16, 2007)