A year after Zhang Yin, one of China's richest women and a Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) member, sparked controversy with her provocatively pro-rich proposals, another wealthy delegate has stirred up fresh online debate with a scheme favoring the poor.
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A community worker counts consumption coupons handed out by the local government in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Dec 15. [File photo]
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Liu Hanyuan, one of China's most affluent men, said the government should provide every citizen annual coupons worth up to 4,000 yuan ($584).
The move would encourage domestic consumption during the economic downturn, he said.
Heated online discussions, mostly supporting Liu, began with posts on major Web portals, discussion forums, blogs and podcasts.
"It is about time we, the common people, get to enjoy the benefits of the reform and opening up," a typical Web posting read. "We should all support Liu."
Chinese netizens are unaccustomed to supporting proposals from the rich, whom they believe too often push self-serving policies. Liu is an unlikely candidate to become an online opinion leader.
The 44-year-old from Sichuan has made the Top 100 Hurun China Rich List for three years. He is president of the country's largest fish-feed producer, Tongwei Group.
Liu proposed giving every citizen a 1,000-yuan coupon at the end of March, and again during China's three longest holidays - May Day, National Day and Spring Festival. All coupons should be used within a month, he said.
Since January, some prosperous coastal cities have already started handing out millions of yuan worth of coupons to the public.
Zhejiang's provincial capital Hangzhou will issue 850 million yuan worth of coupons nationwide, including in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, the city's mayor and National People's Congress (NPC) deputy Cai Qi said.
The city has already distributed 100 million yuan worth of shopping coupons to local low-income families. Shanghai residents reportedly stormed a local bank, where Hangzhou officials gave out 9 million yuan worth of tourism coupons on Sunday.
At least 10 mainland cities, including Chongqing municipality and Chengdu in southwestern China, Shenzhen in the south and Nanjing in the east, have issued coupons to stimulate spending.