Beijing has knocked down its household registration barrier to lure various talents from other provinces and overseas to speed up the capital city's economic and social development.
Permanent residency no longer is a requirement for out-of-town professionals and technicians who aspire to desirable positions within business and government bodies in Beijing, Beijing Morning Post reported yesterday.
This year's selection of senior officials for the municipal government departments will not be restricted to permanent residents of Beijing. Permanent residency was a prerequisite for application in the senior official selection in 1995, 1997 and 1998.
Among the 516 applicants competing for 39 posts, 78 are from around 30 cities and provinces outside of Beijing, according to Meng Linghua, an official in charge of the officials' recruitment.
Meng said the new measure has resulted in remarkable increase in the quality of the applicant pool. Overall, this year's senior official candidates have a high educational background.
Sixty-two percent of the applicants possess master's degrees and 65.3 percent hold senior professional titles.
"The situation indeed forms a sharp contrast with that of previous years," Meng said.
Private entrepreneurs or businessmen and their families who work and live in Beijing will also soon benefit from the slackening of the resident restriction.
The local government is drafting a new regulation concerning the acquirement of permanent residency for businessmen who invest in Beijing, which will be effected on October 1.
According to the new regulations, owners of enterprises from other provinces that have been in operation for three continuous years in Beijing would have a chance to secure permanent residency if their business contributes to the city's tax income or recruits local employees.
In support of the high-tech industry, talents employed by high-tech businesses, international co-operations and research institutions are also permitted a certificate which entitles its holder all the benefits of permanent residency.
The certificate is valid for two years and must be renewed at the end of the term. With the recommendation of his or her employer, a certificate holder for three years can apply for a permanent one.
About 1,900 people have received the certificate since it was first issued in 1999.
(China Daily 09/03/2001)
