[Backgrounder] A story stirs a hot online discussion recently......

Female CCTV reporter seduced while trying to get Beijing residence permit

A female CCTV reporter over 20 years old named Wang, was defrauded and told to perform sexual favors in order to secure a Beijing residence permit.

The reporter met a man, who pretended to be a high ranking government official called Cheng Chaojun, and asked him for help in securing a local residence permit on October, 2007. Cheng promised to do it for her. (Detail>> )

[What is "Hukou"?]

China's "Hukou" policy is also called household registration system.
China's household registration system, set up in 1958, divides the population into rural households and non-rural households, and individual interests and rights, such as education, healthcare, housing and employment, are linked to the household registration. (Detail>> )


[Poll]

According to a 2007 poll by China's leading news portal Sina.com and China Youth Daily, 92 percent of the 11,168 respondents said the system was in need of reform.

More than 53 percent said restrictive policies attached to the system, such as limits on access to education, healthcare, employment and social insurance should be eliminated. More than 38percent called for the system to be scrapped entirely. (Detail>> )

[Problems exist]

Culture of household registration refers to the concept that has been greatly influenced by unequal social rights under “Hukou” system. The gap in terms of economic development between big cities and small cities also results in the difference of social status. (Detail>> )

Under the system, rural citizens have no access to social welfare in cities, even though they may live and work there. (Detail>> )

[China is working to reform its two-tiered household registration system]

China's household registration system, set up in 1958, divides the population into rural households and non-rural households, and individual interests and rights, such as education, healthcare, housing and employment, are linked to the household registration.

Under the system, rural citizens have no access to social welfare in cities, even though they may live and work there. (Detail>> )

[Shanghai to lower threshold for permanent residency]

People who have lived for seven years cumulatively in Shanghai, China's leading economic hub, could have a chance to get permanent residence, under a regulation posted Monday on the municipal government website.

Applicants for resident status should also have participated in the social security system for seven years and paid taxes in Shanghai. (Detail>> )

[Efforts made in other Chinese cities]

All permanent residents in Beijing eligible for endowment insurance
Starting on April 1, all residents in Beijing can take part in the unified urban and rural endowment insurance program by completing payment procedures. (Detail>> )

Equal rights for Shenzhen's migrants
A new residence permit system will be launched next month, in a bid by authorities to provide more equality for the city's 8 million migrant workers. (Detail>> )

By People's Daily Online