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.

Provide Legal Services to Housing Removers by a 152-Lawyers Voluntary Team

02/17/2004

Recently, Shanghai¡¯s 152 lawyers with strong sense of social responsibility and high professional quality were organized by the municipal Bar Association and teamed as first members of¡°Lawyers Voluntary Team Providing Legal Services to Housing Removers¡±and provided little charging or free legal services to house removers. Liu Yunggeng, Vice Secretary of the Municipal Committee of the CPC, paid a visit to those voluntary lawyers who were attending the training class for legal affairs involved in housing removal on September 20th, 2003.

Those total 152 lawyers were from 80 law firms in Shanghai¡¯s districts and county and of rich experience in real estate legal services. In order to facilitate people to contact them, the municipal Bar Association printed a Guide for Legal Services to House Removers attached with a list of all 152 lawyers¡¯names and contacts. Shanghai citizens can also phone 12348, the legal consultation hotline, or visit www.lawyers.com.cn or law.eastday.com for that list.

Lawyers are professional social worker with rich knowledge in law and practicing skills, said Liu when he was visiting the voluntary team. That lawyers assisted housing removers to deal with legal affairs can safeguard the latter¡¯s lawful rights and interests in a practical way. Liu hoped that lawyers of the voluntary team can safeguard the lawful rights and interests of the housing removers and contribute their efforts in promoting Shanghai¡¯s legalization progress with strong sense of social responsibility as well under the requirements of¡°excellence, good faith, and respecting people¡±for the purpose of regulating the acts of the real estate developers and housing removal companies and formulating the normative housing removal order.

According our other sources, Shanghai¡¯s criteria for providing legal aids to housing removers will be lowed. People who are not able to pay attorney fees can apply for legal aids to Shanghai¡¯s total 20 legal aid centers, or ask those voluntary team lawyers to apply on behalf of them.

The Shanghai government 2006