The press conference on the State Council’s guideline on reform of China's household registration system

(en.nhfpc.gov.cn)

Updated: 2014-08-24

Huang Ming: Led by the Central Party and the State Council, the Ministry of Public Security, National Development and Reform Commission, CPC Central Rural Work Leading Group Office, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Land and Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, National Health and Family Planning Commission, National Bureau of Statistics and the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council seriously implemented the important instructions, comments and spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress, the Third Plenary Session of 18th CPC Central Committee, the central urbanization work conference and Party leaders to draft the guideline. The 12 departments sorted out a number of topics on the basis of comprehensive and in-depth investigation, as well as experiences collected from across the country. After the first draft came out, our ministers led us to a number of provinces in East, Central and West China to solicit opinions, carry out further research and debate, and evaluate policy results. Meanwhile, we listened to the opinions of local residents, especially migrant workers. We also took advice from NPC delegates, CPPCC members and experts. The State Council held symposiums and coordination meetings and sought opinions form various regions and departments three times. The guideline embodies the wisdom of both the cadres and the general public. 2014-07-30 09:57:14

Huang Ming: The guideline clearly stated the guiding ideology, aim, task, policy measures and practical path of household registration system reform, which finds expression in the following five parts: general requirements, further adjustment on the household relocation system, innovative population management, effective protection of the lawful rights and interests of the population transferred from the agricultural sector and other permanent resident population, and the strengthening of organizational leadership.

The State Council will hold meetings in the near future to make specific arrangements for various regions and departments to implement the guideline. Thank you for your concern on household registration reform. Now the eight of us will be happy to answer your questions. 2014-07-30 09:58:19

Guo Weimin: Now we are opening up to questions. Please tell us the press unit that you work for before asking questions. 2014-07-30 09:59:33

China Daily: I have a question for Vice-Minister Huang. What is the ultimate goal of the household registration reform? And what are the main features of the reform process? 2014-07-30 09:59:50

Huang Ming: Just now you asked about the ultimate goal and the feature of the reform. The big goal is to help the population transferred from the agricultural sector and other permanent urban residents, which altogether total 100 million, to get hukou. It also seeks to help those without hukou to have access to basic public services. Another important goal of this reform, however, is to establish a new household registration system that adapts to a comprehensive well-off society; effectively supports social management and public service; safeguards people’s legal rights and interests; and is people-oriented, scientific, effective, standardized and orderly. The goal consists of the following aspects: to unify the household registration (hukou) system; to put the residence permit system in full operation; to basically complete a hukou transfer system with essential conditions for hukou transfer, such as permanent place and legal and stable employment, in the form of registering one’s habitual residence; and to build up a national population database for trans-regional and trans-department information integration and sharing.

The household registration reform features three characteristics. First, different from the previous reforms that made partial, incomplete and legal adaptations in certain aspects, this is a comprehensive reform. As a legacy of the central authority’s overall planning on new urbanization, the decision of implementing a differentiated settle-down policy across China plays a significant role in rationalizing the layout of big and medium cities and small towns, and streamlining population distribution. Second, instead of being an isolated issue, the reform is coordinated by various departments under the unified deployment of the central authority. That is why today the ministers are present here not only to answer questions on the hukou system, but also to answer questions on coordinated reforms. The third characteristic is that the reform is an overall construction of the new hukou system. 2014-07-30 10:00:18

Huang Ming: The reform is not only about changing settle-down policies, but also about establishing a unified urban-rural household registration system, thoroughly implementing a residence permit system, and perfecting a population management system. It is fair to say that the authority’s determination, the intensity, extensity and practicality of the reform is unprecedented. Thank you. 2014-07-30 10:07:12