Hukou, a resident permit given by the government restricting people from
changing their permanent place, has been causing migrants endless troubles.
People have to apply for a temporary living permit issued by the local
government to stay in the area.
This controversial system stirred fierce debate again when Beijing published
its new regulations on Aug 21 that states migrants whose monthly income is lower
than 1,600 yuan will not be issued a Living and Working Permit, which is for
those with diplomas and or with specialized skills in necessary industries, the
China Times reported Aug 22.
The Beijing Living and Working Permit allows bearers the same rights as
Beijing residents. Those who cannot meet the new demands will only get Temporary
Dwelling Cards with restricted rights.
The primary purpose of the living permit is population control. The
government is aiming to keep the population of Beijing under 16 million until
2010 in order to achieve a gradual increase in population so as not to overload
the city's already stretched resources.
Other major cities in China also impose strict living permit systems to
control migrant living, working and welfare conditions.
In Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, where there are no
Living and Working Permits, all people who have migrated from other parts of the
country hold the same Temporary Dwelling Card, no matter now long they've been
living there or how much tax they payto the city.
As the Southern Metropolitan Daily reported Aug 24, a large number of
migrants cannot enjoy the same rights as Guangzhou citizens, even though they
are leading luxurious lifestyles in the city.
Mr. He, 33, is one of 5 million migrants in Guangzhou. He moved from Anhui
Province 12 years ago, and is now fairly successful. He runs three companies in
Guangzhou, but does not share the same rights as many of his employees.
"Nine out of 10 of my employees are locals. They are free to visit Hong Kong.
But for me, a migrant boss, it's very difficult to get through the procedures,"
He told the paper.
Last month He decided to buy his wife a new car. When he was ready to pay for
the car, he was told to show his wife's Temporary Dwelling Card to the municipal
police station in order to register.
"My wife has no job, so she cannot get a dwelling card," he said.
A migrant surnamed Li owns a two-story apartment in Guangzhou's Bigui Garden
residential community. He told the Southern Metropolitan Daily 30 percent of
residents in this community are from the "floating population", just like him.
Experts say an isolated city cannot exist in modern times. Every city
maintains tight connections with other places. If Beijing's living permit
regulations are logical, cities piping water to Beijing can also price the water
as high as they like, and provinces which feed electricity to Beijing can raise
prices dramatically.
With or without hukou or living permits, people who intend to live in a city
will still stay there. As a migrant said, he would "temporarily" live in his
apartment forever.
