Laws of the People's Republic of China

(Effective Date 1985.07.20)

   Article 1. These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations for the Administration of the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Zone.

   Article 2. All the land and resources within the boundaries of the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Zone (hereinafter referred to as the Development Zone) are owned by the State. The land shall be put under the centralised administration of the Administrative Commission of the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Zone (hereinafter referred to as the Development Zone Administrative Commission).

   Article 3. All units and individuals must comply with and implement the overall development plan of the Development Zone. Without approval, it shall not be permitted to arbitrarily alter the topography of or landforms on the land within the boundaries of the Development Zone, or to occupy land without permission, or construct or demolish any building or structure.

   Article 4. Where any unit or individual requires the use of land, they must submit an application to the Development Zone Administrative Commission. The land may only be used after completion of the formalities for the use of the land by presentation to the departments responsible for administration of planning in the Development Zone the agreements, contracts or documents approved by the Development Zone Administrative Commission and receipt of a certificate of land use.

   Article 5. Units and individuals which have received approval to use land shall only have the right to its use; they shall not be permitted to exploit, put to use or destroy underground or other resources.

   Article 6. Units or individuals using land should, within six months from the date of issue of the certificate of land use, submit to the Development Zone planning departments a construction plan and plan for production commencement and construction work should start within nine months. Should this not be done, the certificate of land use may be revoked.

With valid reasons and documentary evidence, the land-using units or individuals may, with the approval of the Development Zone Administrative Commission, appropriately postpone the submission of construction and production commencement plans and the date of commencement of construction.

   Article 7. After the land-using unit or individual has fulfilled the construction requirements as stipulated in the contract or agreement, the project shall be subject to final inspection and approval by the Development Zone department in charge of planning and administration. It may only be put officially into operation when it is shown to conform to the construction standards and safety regulations of the People's Republic of China. If it is discovered that production has commenced without authorisation, the unit or individual shall immediately be ordered to cease use and go through the required inspection procedures once more; in the case of any accident arising directly therefrom, the unit or individual shall pay compensation and accept full legal liability.

   Article 8. If a land-using unit or individual wishes to expand the boundaries of the land being used, they shall complete the procedures of application and approval for expansion of the land in use.

   Article 9. The term of land use by a unit or individual shall be determined by the Development Zone Administrative Commission on the basis of the actual requirements of the project. Where an extension of that period is required, the necessary procedures must be completed.

   Article 10. Any unit or individual using land in the Development Zone shall pay a fee for land use. The standard of fees for land use and the method of collection of such fees shall be stipulated elsewhere by the Development Zone Administrative Commission.

   Article 11. Those who establish educational, cultural, scientific and technological, health and other non-profit public welfare institutions in the Development Zone, and projects involving exceptionally advanced technology shall be granted a reduction of or exemption from land use fees.

Those who invest in projects involving water supply, gas supply, electricity supply, heating systems, drainage and sewage, roads and other infrastructural projects in the Development Zone shall be granted a reduction of or exemption from land use fees for a period of five to ten years.

   Article 12. Land-using units or individuals that undertake construction or building of an infrastructural nature on their land, in accordance with their contract or agreement, shall ensure that such construction conforms with municipal plans.

   Article 13. Land-using units or individuals shall themselves undertake to build and install, within the boundaries of the land in use, facilities for the supply of water, electricity, heating, gas as well as sewerage, roads and telecommunications facilities.

   Article 14. These Regulations shall come into force from the date of promulgation.