Ever since China opened up to the world in 1980's, the Shanghai Municipal Government, led by the Communist Party of China and the State Council, makes great effort to build the city into an international economic, financial, trade and shipping center. With the cooperation and hardwork of Shanghai people, the city is progressing to its goal as a global metropolitan. The new team of leaders of the Shanghai government took office in February 2003. "The power of the government is entrusted by the people; the interest of people is above all," as Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng promise in his inaugural. Guided by the Shanghai Party Committee, the city's new leadership vows to strictly perform its official duties; to make significant progress in self-improvement, and to intensify the shift of its role from administrative to public service. The Shanghai government will build itself into a service government that would share with the people all their happiness and troubles; a solid responsible government that is efficient, honest and diligent; a law-abiding government that respects legal system and rules strictly and impartially.

Shanghai: benefit coverage of low rent policy has been enlarged

07/07/2004

Since December of last year, Shanghai further expanded the benefit coverage of low rent housing by loosing standard of per capita living space to 7 square meters, and enlisting senior labor models and key people subject to special care given to servicemen and the family members of revolutionary martyrs and servicemen into the group of people enjoying low rent housing to adopt the practice that low rent housing is to be provided to the group. Recently, the municipal housing land resources bureau has made further detailed regulation on authenticating and handling procedures for labor models and key subject to special care given to servicemen and the family members of revolutionary martyrs and servicemen who are qualified for the preferential policy.

Labor models who can enjoy the policy refer to the retired ones who have been awarded the title of labor models above the provincial, autonomous region, municipal and ministry level, with a per capita monthly income lower than 570 RMB (570 is included) and per capita living space less than 7 square meters. Key subject to special care given to servicemen and the family members of revolutionary martyrs and servicemen refer to members of a revolutionary martyr's family, family members of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for business, wounded or disabled soldiers of grade one or special grade or their spouses, with a per capita monthly income lower than 570 RMB (570 is included) and per capita living space less than 7 square meters.

Application procedures are as the following: applicants fill in "Form on Authenticating Labor Models and Key Subject to Special Care Given to Servicemen and the Family Members of Revolutionary Martyrs and Servicemen"; qualification of labor model is to be authenticated by the municipal workers' union and key subject to special care given to servicemen and the family members of revolutionary martyrs and servicemen is to be authenticated by civil administration bureau on district or county level; their income will be ratified respectively by federation of trade unions on district or county level and by civil administration bureau; their living space is to be examined by office of low rent housing on district or county level. Those who are qualified for the low rent policy are to be registered and those not qualified will be given clear response.

The standard of providing apartments to citizens is to be practiced according to regulations:100,000 RMB for each household in the 10 downtown districts and 80,000 RMB for each household at the rest 9 districts and counties. In principle, unit price of the practice can be calculated by referring to the current unit price of 3500 RMB per square meter for supporting commercial housing. Low rent housing offices at all districts and counties can formulate corresponding operation methods according to real estate market and conditions of special families at their own region. Allowance beyond standard will be paid by the district or county on its own. Part of money for low rent housing which has been beyond the standard will be paid by individuals.

The Shanghai government 2006