When will all hukou restrictions be lifted?
(Beijing Today)
Updated: 2005-01-21 16:00

It has been reported that Beijing is to remove the limitation stating that only people with a Beijing hukou (residence permit) can buy cars. In future, non-locals will also be able to purchase automobiles in Beijing.

It should be good news for non-locals who want to buy a car. Now they do not have to buy cars using the name of some other Beijing local or company.

But we can't be certain about how many non-locals will be excited at this news or how effective the policy will be for the market.

Those who want to buy autos probably have already done so, by whatever means, and others probably won't buy a car no matter what the incentives offered.

The real intention in removing the hukou limitation on car buyers, according to some sources, is to "help the auto market" rather than to offer convenience to non-localuyers or show the openness of the government.

The limitation might still be there if the auto market was booming as it was two years ago.

Examples of lifting hukou limitations for the sake of market development are actually not rare in the recent past, for instance the lifting of restrictions on home buying when the housing market was depressed.

It seems non-locals will not have access to all the usual resources and services until they are abundant in the market. For example, migrant workers used to be required to use "employees cards" until the floating population was brought under greater control.

Migrant workers construct and contribute to our city. The taxes they have paid go into the government's public finances. Therefore, the migrant workers should be treated fairly and equally with the locals.

The policy makers should always bear in mind the notion of humanity. The government should not make decisions according to changes in the market or randomly offer people new rights based on market conditions.

The market has its own rules. Public policy-making should also stand in line with the principles of justice. It demands fairness, rather than discrimination.

Setting barriers for non-local auto buyers is not only groundless but also illegal. According to the Administration Licensing Law instituted last July, it's illegal to forbid a certain group of people from buying certain kinds of products in a certain area.

We are at a loss as to why such limitations have not been lifted till now, why the idea of the "non-locals" seems to influence government policy makers so deeply.

We were once happy at the abolition of the "employees' card."  We were also pleased when migrant workers' kids were given access to public schools.

And now we nsure whether to be happy or embarrassed about the non-local buyers being given something they should already have. We are not sure when the awkward situation will come to an end and when all barriers for non-locals will be broken down.

Close

Huang Shengyi returns for Kung Fu Baby chimp receiving a vaccine Plum flowers blossom in Wuhan

Today's Top News     Top Life News
FM: 8 freed hostages now in embassy, coming home soon         Mayor sets out Olympic pledge for 2005         1.2 mln applicants crowd into exam rooms         China and India launch first strategic dialogue         Shanghai plans 1 billion yuan space city         Women master men... and their wallets	A world without thieves? A 'thief map' helps       You're married! Donald Trump weds for third time       Postgraduate exam changed at the last moment       Stamps issued to mark tsunami relief       Teenage Internet addict commits suicide       Tests show Viagra may help enlarged hearts