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INTERIM REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER OF THE RIGHT TO THE USE OF THE STATE-OWNED LAND IN THE URBAN AREAS

Category  LAND ADMINISTRATION Organ of Promulgation  The State Council Status of Effect  In Force
Date of Promulgation  1990-05-19 Effective Date  1990-05-19  

Interim Regulations of the People's Republic of China Concerning the Assignment and Transfer of the Right to the Use of the State-owned Land in the Urban Areas



Chapter I  General Provisions
Chapter II  The Assignment of the Right to the Use of the Land
Chapter III  The Transfer of the Right to the Use of the Land
Chapter IV  The Lease of the Right of the Use of the Land
Chapter V  The Mortgage of the Right to the Use of the Land
Chapter VI  The Termination of the Right to the Use of the Land
Chapter VII  The Allocated Right to the Use of the Land
Chapter VIII  Supplementary Provisions

(Promulgated by Decree No. 55 of the State Council of the People's

Republic of China on May 19, 1990 and effective as of the date of
promulgation)
Chapter I  General Provisions

    Article 1  These Regulations are formulated in order to reform the system
of using the State-owned land in the urban areas, rationally develop, utilize
and manage the land, strengthen land administration and promote urban
construction and economic development.

    Article 2  The State, in accordance with the principle of the ownership
being separated from the right to the use of the land, implements the system
whereby the right to the use of the State-owned land in the urban areas may be
assigned and transferred, with the exclusion of the underground resources, the
objects buried underground, and the public works.

    The term "State-owned land in the urban areas" as used in the preceding
paragraph refers to the land owned by the whole people (hereinafter referred
to as "the land") within the limits of cities, county sites, administrative
towns and industrial and mining areas.

    Article 3  Any company, enterprise, other organization and individual
within or outside the People's Republic of China may, unless otherwise
provided by law, obtain the right to the use of the land and engage in land
development, utilization and management in accordance with the provisions of
these Regulations.

    Article 4  Users of the land who have obtained the right to the use of the
land in accordance with these Regulations may, within the term of land use,
transfer, lease, or mortgage the right to the use of the land or use it for
other economic activities, and their lawful rights and interests shall be
protected by the laws of the State.

    Article 5  Users of the land shall, in their activities to develop,
utilize and manage the land, abide by the laws and regulations of the State
and may not jeopardize the interests of the society and the public.

    Article 6  The land administrative departments under the people's
governments at or above the county level shall conduct supervision and
inspection, according to law, over the assignment, transfer, lease, mortgage
and termination of the right to the use of the land.

    Article 7  The registration of the assignment, transfer, lease, mortgage
and termination of the right to the use of the land and the registration of
the above-ground buildings and other attached objects shall be handled by the
land administration department and housing administration departments of the
government in accordance with the law and the pertinent regulations of the
State Council.

    The registration documents shall be made available for public reference.
Chapter II  The Assignment of the Right to the Use of the Land

    Article 8   The assignment of the right to the use of the land refers to
the act of the State as the owner of the land who, within the term of a
certain number of years, assigns the right to the use of the land to land
users, who shall in turn pay fees for the assignment thereof to the State.

    An assignment contract shall be signed for assigning the right to the use
of the land.

    Article 9  People's governments at the municipal and county levels shall
be in charge of assigning the right to the use of land, which shall be
effected in a planned, step-by-step way.

    Article 10  The land administration departments under the people's
governments at the municipal and county levels shall, in conjunction with the
administrative departments for urban planning and construction and the housing
administration departments, draw up a plan concerning the size and location,
the purposes, the term, and other conditions with respect to the assigning of
the right to the use of the land. The plan shall be submitted for approval in
accordance with the limits of authority for approval as stipulated by the
State Council and shall then be implemented by the land administration
departments.

    Article 11  The contract for assigning the right to the use of the land
shall be signed by and between the land administration departments under the
people's governments at the municipal and county levels (hereinafter referred
to as "the assigning party") and the land users in accordance with the
principle of equality, voluntariness and compensation for use.

    Article 12  The maximum term with respect to the assigned right to the use
of the land shall be determined respectively in the light of the purposes
listed below:

    (1) 70 years for residential purposes;

    (2) 50 years for industrial purposes;

    (3) 50 years for the purposes of education, science, culture, public
health and physical education;

    (4) 40 years for commercial, tourist and recreational purposes; and

    (5) 50 years for comprehensive utilization or other purposes.

    Article 13  The assignment of the right to the use of the land may be
carried out by the following means:

    (1) by reaching an agreement through consultations;

    (2) by invitation to bid; or

    (3) by auction.

    The specific procedures and steps for assigning the right to the use of
the land by the means stipulated in the proceding paragraphs shall be
formulated by the people's government of the relevant province, automonous
region, or municipality directly under the Central Government.

    Article 14  The land user shall, within 60 days of the signing of the
contract for the assignment of the right to the use of the land, pay the total
amount of the assignment fee thereof, failing which, the assigning party shall
have the right to terminate the contract and may claim compensation for breach
of contract.

    Article 15  Thc assigning party shall, in compliance with the stipulations
of the contract, provide the right to the use of the land thus assigned,
failing which, the land user shall have the right to terminate the contract
and may claim compensation for breach of contract.

    Article 16  After paying the total amount of the fee for the assignment
of the right to the use of the land, the land user shall, in accordance with
the relevant provisions, go through the registration thereof, obtain the
certificate for land use and accordingly the right to the use of the land.

    Article 17  The land user shall, in conformity with the stipulations of
the contract for the assignment of the right to the use of laud and the
requirements of city planning, develop, utilize and manage the land.

    Should any land user fail to develop and utilize the land in accordance
with the period of time specified in the contract and the conditions therein,
the land administration department under the people's government at the
municipal or county level shall make corrections and, in light of the
seriousness of the case, give such penalties as a warning, a fine or, in an
extreme case, withdrawing the right to the use of the land without
compensation.

    Article 18  If the land user needs to alter the purposes of land use as
stipulated in the contract for assigning the right to the use of land, he
shall obtain the consent of the assigning party and the approval of the land
administration department and the urban planning department and shall, in
accordance with the relevant provisions in this Chapter, sign a new contract
for assigning the right to the use of the land, readjust the amount of the
assignment fee thereof, and undertake registration anew.
Chapter III  The Transfer of the Right to the Use of the Land

    Article 19  The transfer of the right to the use of the land refers to the
land user's act of re-assigning the right to the use of the land, including
the sale, exchange, and donation thereof.

    If the land has not been developed and utilized in accordance with the
period of time specified in the contract and the conditions therein, the right
to the use thereof may not be transferred.

    Article 20  A transfer contract shall be signed for the transfer of the
right to the use of the land.

    Article 21  With the transfer of the right to the use of the land, the
rights and obligations specified in the contract for assigning the right to
the use of the land and in the registration documents shall be transferred
accordingly.

    Article 22  The land user who has acquired the right to the use of the
land by means of the transfer thereof shall have a term of use which is the
remainder of the term specified in the contract for assigning the right to the
use of the land minus the number of the years in which the original land user
has used the land.

    Article 23  With the transfer of the right to the use of the land, the
ownership of the above-ground buildings and other attached objects shall be
transferred accordingly.

    Article 24  The owners or joint owners of the above-ground buildings and
other atttached objects shall have the right to the use of the land within the
limits of use of the said buildings and objects.

    With the transfer of the ownership of the above-ground buildings and other
attached objects by the land users, the right to the use of the land within
the limits of use of the said buildings and objects shall be transferred
accordingly, with the exception of the movables.

    Article 25  With respect to the transfer of the right to the use of the
land and of the ownership of the above-ground buildings and other attached
objects, registration for the transfer shall be undertaken in accordance with
the relevant provisions.

    Divided transfer of the right to the use of the land and of the ownership
of the above-ground buildings and other attached objects shall be subject to
the approval of the land administration department and the housing
administration department under the people's government at the municipal or
county level, and registration for the divided transfer shall be undertaken
in accordance with the relevant provisions.

    Article 26  When the transfer of the right to the use of the land is
priced at a level obviously lower than the prevailing market price, the
people's government at the municipal or county level shall have the
priority of the purchase thereof.

    When the market price for the transfer of the right to the use of the land
rises to an unreasonable extent, the people's government at the municipal or
county level may take necessary measures to cope with it.

    Article 27  If, after the transfer of the right to the use of the land,
necessity arises for altering the purposes of land use as stipulated in the
contract for assigning the right to the use of the land, it shall be handled
in accordance with the provisions in Article 18 of these Regulations.
Chapter IV  The Lease of the Right of the Use of the Land

    Article 28  The lease of the right to the use of the land refers to the
act of the land user as the lessor to lease the right to the use of the land
together with the above-ground buildings and other attached objects to the
lessee for use who shall in turn pay lease rentals to the lessor.

    If the land has not been developed and utilized in accordance with the
period of time specified in the contract and the conditions therein, the right
to the use thereof may not be leased.

    Article 29  A lease contract shall be signed for leasing the right to the
use of the land by and between the lessor and the lessee.

    The lease contract shall not run counter to the laws and regulations of
the State or the stipulations of the contract for assigning the right to the
use of the land.

    Article 30  After leasing the right to the use of the land, the lessee
must continue to perform the contract for assigning the right to the use of
the land.

    Article 31  With respect to the lease of the right to the use of the land
together with the above-ground buildings and other attached objects, the
lessee shall undertake registration in accordance with the relevant provisions.
Chapter V  The Mortgage of the Right to the Use of the Land

    Article 32  The right to the use of the land may be mortgaged.

    Article 33  With the mortgage of the right to the use of the land, the
above-ground buildings and other attached objects thereon shall be mortgaged
accordingly.

    With the mortgage of above-ground buildings and other attached objects,
the right to the use of the land within the limits of use of the said
buildings and objects shall be mortgaged accordingly.

    Article 34  Amortgage contract shall be signed for mortgaging the right to
the use of the land by and between the mortgagor and the mortgagee.

    The mortgage contract shall not run counter to the laws and regulations
of the State or the stipulations of the contract for assigning the right to
the use of the land.

    Article 35  With respect to the mortgage of the right to the use of the
land together with the above-ground buildings and other attached objects,
registration for the mortgage shall be undertaken in accordance with the
relevant provisions.

    Article 36  If the mortgagor fails to fulfil liabilities within the
prescribed period of time or declares dissolution or bankruptcy within the
term of the mortgage contract, the mortgatee shall have the right to dispose
of the mortgaged property in accordance with the laws and regulations of the
State and the stipulations of the mortgage contract.

    With respect to the right to the use of the land and the ownership of the
above-ground buildings and other attached objects acquired as a result of the
disposal of the mortgaged property, transfer registration shall be undertaken
in accordance with the relevant provisions.

    Article 37  The mortgagee shall have the priority of compensation with
respect to the receipts resulting from the disposal of the mortgaged property.

    Article 38  If the mortgage is eliminated as a result of the liquidation
of liabilities or for other reasons, procedures shall be undertaken to nullify
the mortgage registration.
Chapter VI  The Termination of the Right to the Use of the Land

    Article 39  The right to the use of the land terminate for such reasons as
the expiration of the term of use as stipulated in the contract for assigning
the right to the use of the land, the withdrawal of the right before the
expiration, or the loss of the land.

    Article 40  Upon expiration of the term of use, the right to the use of
the land and the ownership of the above-ground buildings and other attached
objects thereon shall be acquired by the State without compensation. The land
user shall surrender the certificate for land use and undertake procedures to
nullify the registration.

    Article 41  Upon expiration of the term of use, the land user may apply
for its renewal. Where such a renewal is necessary, a new contract shall be
signed in accordance with the provisions in Chapter II of these Regulations
and the land user shall pay the fee for the assignment of the right to the use
of the land and undertake registration.

    Article 42  The State shall not withdraw before the expiration of the term
of use the right to the use of the land which the land user acquired in
accordance with the law. Under special circumstances, the State may, based on
the requirements of social public interests, withdraw the right before the
expiration of the term of use in line with the relevant legal procedures and
shall, based on the number of years in which the land user has used the land
and actual state of affairs with respect to the development and utilization of
the land, offer corresponding compensation.
Chapter VII  The Allocated Right to the Use of the Land

    Article 43  The allocated right to the use of the land refers to the right
to the use of the land which the land user acquires in accordance with the
law, by various means, and without compensation.

    The land user referred to in the preceding paragraph shall pay tax for the
use of the land in accordance with the provisions of the Interim Regulations
of the People's Republic of China Concerning the Tax for the Use of the Land
in the Urban Areas.

    Article 44  The allocated right to the use of the land may not be
transferred, leased, or mortgaged, with the exception of cases as specified in
Article 45 of these Regulations.

    Article 45  On condition that the following requirements are satisfied,
the allocated right to the use of the land and the ownership of the
above-ground buildings and other attached objects may, subject to the approval
of the land administration departments and the housing administration
departments under the people's governments at the municipal or county level,
be transferred, leased or mortgaged:

    (1) the land users are companies, enterprises, or other economic
organizations, or individuals;

    (2) a certificate for the use of state-owned land has been obtained;

    (3) possessing legitimate certificates of property rights to the
above-ground buildings and other attached objects; and

    (4) a contract for assigning the right to the use of land is signed in
accordance with the provisions in Chapter II of these Regulations and the land
user makes up for the payment of the assignment fee to the local municipal or
county people's government or uses the profits resulting from the transfer,
lease or mortgage to pay the assignment fee.

    The transfer, lease or mortgage of the allocated right to the use of the
land referred to in the preceding paragraphs shall be handled respectively in
accordance with the provisions in Chapters III, IV and V of these Regulations.

    Article 46  Any units or individuals that transfer, lease or mortgage the
allocated right to the use of the land without authorization shall have their
illegal incomes thus secured confiscated by the land administration
departments under the people's governments at the municipal or county level
and shall be fined in accordance with the seriousness of the case.

    Article 47  If the land user who has acquired the allocated right to the
use of the land without compensation stops the use thereof as a result of
moving to another site, dissolution, disbandment, or bankruptcy or for other
reasons, the municipal or county people's government shall withdraw the
allocated right to the use of the land without compensation and may assign it
in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Regulations.

    The municipal or county people's government may, based on the needs of
urban construction and development and the requirements of urban planning,
withdraw the allocated right to the use of the land without compensation and
may assign it in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Regulations.

    When the allocated right to the use of the land is withdrawn without
compensation,the municipal or county people's government shall, in the light
of the actual state of affairs, give due compensation for the above-ground
buildings and other attached objects thereon.
Chapter VIII  Supplementary Provisions

    Article 48  The right to the use of the land may be inherited if it is
acquired by individuals in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.

    Article 49  The land user shall pay tax in accordance with the provisions
of the tax laws and regulations of the State.

    Article 50  Fees collected by assigning the right to the use of the land
in accordance with these Regulations shall be included in the fiscal budget
and managed as a special fund, which shall be used mainly for urban
constrction and land development. The specific measures for the use and
management of the fund shall be separately prescribed by the Ministry of
Finance.

    Article 51  The people's governments of various provinces, autonomous
regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall, in
accordance with the provisions of these Regulations and with the actual state
of affairs in their respective localities, select as their pilot testing
grounds some of the cities or towns where conditions are relatively ripe.

    Article 52  With respect to foreign investors engaging in developing and
managing tracts of land, the administration of the right to the use of the
land shall be effected in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State
Council.

    Article 53  The State Administration for Land Uses shall be responsible
for the interpretation of these Regulations; the measures for the
implementation thereof shall be formulated by the people's government of the
provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central
Government.

    Article 54  These Regulations shall go into effect as of the date of
promulgation.



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