The Hebei government announced in a press conference on (date) that the Implementing Measures for Levy and Compensation for the Houses on the State-owned Land of Hebei has been put in force since August 1. The measure requires compensation before removal and forbids any department or person to forcibly remove householders by violent threats and cutting off water and power.

For the first time, the measure specifies the government, not the developers, as the subject of legal responsibility for levy and compensation. It also stipulates that the housing assessment should be made by at least three departments according to the householder’s choice.

The measure requires that the People’s government should make a demonstration on the compensation measures and announce it for public comment before the implementation of a housing levy.

The measure makes clear the principle of compensation: the compensation of interior decoration, equipments, loss from suspension, etc should be defined by negotiation with the levy parties. Otherwise, the housing levy departments, householders and lessees can invite qualified assessment agencies to define it by assessment. There should be a subsistence allowance for staff and workers to make up for losses incurred from suspending production or business.

The measure strengthened different methods of compensation for different houses and the principle of compensation before removal. Householders should move within the time limit according to the negotiation or the compensation measure. It is forbidden for any department or person to force the householders to move by threatening or illegal means including cutting off water, heat, gas and power. Also, construction companies are forbidden to take part in the removal.

Source: China Daily Hebei?bureau?

Reporter: Liu Xiang