Taxpayers will have an advantage in applying for hukou in Guangzhou, the Nanfang Daily reported Monday.

People who pay up to 100,000 yuan (US$12,000) in taxes in Guangzhou in three years can obtain a residence permit, according to the new policy.

They should also have lived in the city and paid social insurance for the three years.

Guangzhou had more than 11 million registered residents by the end of 2002, including 7.2 million with hukou, or permanent residence permit. The population would be controlled to less than 11.3 million by the end of 2005 and less than 15 million by 2020. 

The new hukou system will take effect Jan. 1, 2004.

People who meet the criteria do not need to pay an infrastructure fee which had formerly been required.

In the coming two years, Guangzhou will implement online population management.

The new policy also stipulates some privileges for talents and their families.

Migrant workers who are awarded the title of Guangzhou Top Ten Outstanding Youth would be granted a hukou, it said.

National family planning policy violators will find it more difficult to obtain a hukou as they will have to wait five years longer than others even if they meet the criteria.

(Shenzhen Daily December 23, 2003)