"It's amazing. In only five minutes, our identity has changed."

At the household registration section of the Chenzhou municipal police station, Li Guojun and Chen Jianmin were among the first to benefit from the city's new residence registration system, launched in mid-May. The two migrated to Chenzhou from other areas to become entrepreneurs in the local Beihu and Ma Jiaping markets.

People like Li and Chen, from outside the greater metropolitan area but who have steady incomes and legal housing -- even if it is rented -- are now permitted to apply for registration as residents.

Another major change in the system allows people to register in the name of non-directly related relatives. This means, for example, that spouses or stepchildren who come from other areas may register as residents.

Before, people who lived in the outlying districts and counties of the city were registered as rural residents. That differentiation no longer exists. Everyone, whether in the city center or the most remote village under Chenzhou's administration, has the same type of residence registration.

Li Wei is the head of the household registration section of the Chenzhou police station. He says that the elimination of the line between urban and rural residents means that everyone now has the right to apply for a subsistence subsidy if their income falls below the established level. Although applicants must be registered with their community administrative committee and be able to prove they have never contracted to use any land, the location of their home no longer creates a barrier.

Newly registered residents from outside the area are to be included in the community group and encouraged to participate actively in its administration. They have the same rights to work as locally born residents and their children have the same education entitlements.

All residents now enjoy the right to own or transfer their land in accordance with the law, as well as entitlements to family planning assistance, bereavement allowances and pensions.

Hunan Province drafted its new policies on residence registration late last year and selected Chenzhou and Changde as trial cities.

(China.org.cn by Wang Ruyue, June 2, 2004)