2015年CRI Beijing Mulls Points System for Non-locals

 

The draft regulation issued this week is designed to help migrants to claim permanent Beijing resident permits or "hukou" based on a points system.

It brings hope for Beijing drifters like Liu Yue who appears to have everything - a good job and a cozy¹ home in the city - but who has no hukou.

But For the 29-year-old, the bigger concern is her daughter's future.

"Without a hukou, she would not be able to attend high school in Beijing and would face far fiercer competition in the college entrance examination back in my home town. That's what worries me most."

This latest move in Beijing is one of several recent steps taken to reform China's hukou system, which has divided the nation into rural and urban populations since the 1950s and has been blamed for preventing migrants from accessing public services in the cities they work.

According to the draft regulation, applicants² should be under 45 years old, have a temporary residence permit and have paid social security premiums³ in the city for at least seven consecutive⁴ years.

And they shouldn't have a criminal record or have violated the family-planning policy.

Applicants who meet these basic requirements can accrue⁵ points based on their educational background, employment and property.

The number of points needed will be determined⁶ on a yearly basis and according to the changes in the city's population.

But debate erupted as soon as the draft legislation was released. The most complained about aspect is the age threshold.

However, Yang Hongshan from Renmin University of China, said this would determine whether the city can develop in a sustainable way in the future.

"The age limit shows which group of people the new policy will favor. It's widely recognized in the world that the age of 44 divides young and middle-aged⁷ groups and there is no doubt that younger people have greater potential and will make greater contribution to the city in the future."

Apart from middle and more senior age groups, the rules won't benefit those working in low-end sectors⁸, either.

Li Caiyun, a newspaper seller, is among them.

"There is nothing different for us before and after the policy comes out. It's more likely to help those hukou pursuers who have better jobs and backgrounds."

Wang Liejun with the Development Research Center of the State Council, said the policy is not expected to add to the pressure on the city's population which has already quite intense.

"The population control, at present, is more urgent than any other problem the municipal government of Beijing has to address. So, there won't be significant steps taken to ease the city's settling-in restrictions⁹ as the policymaker is struggling to attain¹⁰ a balance between the population size and the basic wellbeing of the citizens."

Similar points systems are already in place in China's first tier cities such as Shanghai and Tianjin.

Last year, Shanghai accepted just over 10,000 new citizens while the number in Tianjian was around 6,000.

Beijing is striving to cap its population at 23 million by 2020.

Its current permanent population exceeds 20 million, about two and half times that of London and New York.

But Gao Wenshu at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said although the new policy will help optimize¹¹ Beijing's population structure, there is still room for improvement.

"I think it would be more reasonable if the age limit of 45 years old could be broadened. Second, the requirement for paying social security for 7 consecutive years will rule out a large number of applicants, as the payment may halt due to job transfer to another city and overseas education. It would be more reasonable if we change it into 7 cumulative¹² years."

The draft has now been published for public consulatation.

It will be reviewed by the authorities before being put into effect.

For CRI, this is Luo Wen.

1 cozy   

adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的

参考例句：

• I like blankets because they are cozy.我喜欢毛毯，因为他们是舒适的。
• We spent a cozy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。

2 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

3 premiums   

n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价

参考例句：

• He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人寿保险费。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 现正在酝酿提高汽车的保险费。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

5 accrue   

v.(利息等)增大，增多

参考例句：

• Ability to think will accrue to you from good habits of study.思考能力将因良好的学习习惯而自然增强。
• Money deposited in banks will accrue to us with interest.钱存在银行，利息自生。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

8 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

10 attain   

vt.达到，获得，完成

参考例句：

• I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
• His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。

11 optimize   

v.使优化 [=optimise]

参考例句：

• We should optimize the composition of the Standing Committees.优化人大常委会组成人员的结构。
• We should optimize our import mix and focus on bringing in advanced technology and key equipment.优化进口结构，着重引进先进技术和关键设备。

12 cumulative   

adj.累积的，渐增的

参考例句：

• This drug has a cumulative effect.这种药有渐增的效力。
• The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.吃鱼的好处要长期才能显现。