Laws of the Guangdong Province

Rules of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Conferring the Title of Honorary Citizen

 (Adopted at the 38th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Second Shenzhen Municipal People' s Congress on March 3, 2000)

Article 1 In order to commend and encourage the person, who has made outstanding contribution to the economic construction, social public welfare undertaking, exchange or cooperation with foreign country in this city, these rules are formulated according to the provisions of relevant laws and regulations and combing with the actual situation of this city.

Article 2 Any compatriot from Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan, overseas Chinese, foreign national of Chinese origin or foreigner, who observes the laws and regulations of the People' s Republic of China and satisfies anyone of the following requirements, may be conferred the title of Shenzhen Honorary Citizen:

(1) making outstanding contribution to directly investing, introducing foreign capital, inviting talent, introducing new and high technology, introducing advanced equipment, imparting new technology, providing new information, developing new product, training professional talent, promoting economic construction, or promoting the development of new and high technology in this city;

(2) making outstanding contribution to expanding international market or promoting economic and trade activity for this city;

(3) making outstanding contribution to promoting the exchange with foreign country, establishing the relationship with friendly city, carrying out the exchange and cooperation in science, education, culture, hygiene or physical culture and sports in this city;

(4) making outstanding contribution to supporting the development of social public welfare undertaking or charity undertaking in this city;

(5) making outstanding contribution in other field.

Article 3 Anyone, who satisfies the requirements stipulated in Article 2 of these rules, shall be recommended by relevant functional department of the municipal people' s government, the district people' s government or other relevant department. The conferment application shall be submitted to competent department according to the following rules: 

(1) if the nominee is an overseas Chinese, a compatriot form Hong Kong or Macao, or a foreign national of Chinese origin, the conferment application shall be submitted to the competent department of overseas Chinese affairs of the municipal people' s government (hereinafter referred to as the municipal department of overseas Chinese affairs), or the competent department of foreign affairs of the municipal department (hereinafter referred to as the municipal department of foreign affairs);

(2) if the nominee is a compatriot form Taiwan, the conferment application shall be submitted to the department of Taiwan affairs of the municipal people' s government (hereinafter referred to as the municipal department of Taiwan affairs);

(3) if the nominee is a foreigner, the conferment application shall be submitted to the municipal department of foreign affairs;

(4) if the nominee is a foreigner, a foreign national of Chinese origin, an overseas Chinese, or a compatriot form Hong Kong or Macao whose main purpose is investment, the conferment application shall be submitted to the competent department of foreign investment of the municipal competent department (hereinafter referred to as the municipal department of foreign investment).

The municipal department of foreign affairs shall take charge of the overall coordination of the submission of conferment application.

Article 4 The municipal department of foreign affairs shall put forward a preliminary examination opinion after making the overall coordination, and submit the opinion to the municipal people' s government for examination and approval. The municipal people' s government shall submit the conferment application to the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People' s Congress for discussion and decision after getting the nominee' s consent.

Article 5 The municipal people' s government shall deliver the resolution concerning the conferment of the title of honorary citizen to the general office of the Standing Committee of Shenzhen Municipal People' s Congress 15 days before the holding of the meeting of the Standing Committee of Shenzhen Municipal People' s Congress.

Article 6 After the Standing Committee of Shenzhen Municipal People' s Congress adopts the decision on conferring the title of Shenzhen Honorary Citizen, the municipal people' s government shall convene a conference to award the certificate and badge of honorary citizen.

Article 7  The honorary citizen shall enjoy the courteous reception and favorable treatment stipulated by the municipal government.

Article 8 The municipal department of foreign affairs shall take charge of the management of honorary citizens' materials, daily liaison and service.

Article 9 The municipal department of foreign affairs may organize honorary citizens to develop investigation and research, discussion in special subject, or consultation for decision-making to give full play to their abilities. The municipal departments of overseas Chinese affairs, Taiwan affairs and foreign investment shall give assistance.

Article 10 Anyone, who is conferred the title of honorary citizen, shall be revoked his title of Shenzhen Honorary Citizen if he is investigated for criminal responsibility because of violating the law of the People' s Republic of China or if he practices fraud in the conferment application.  The revocation shall be submitted by the municipal people' s government to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People' s Congress and shall be decided by the standing committee.

Article 11 Any state functionary, who abuses his power, practices fraud, neglects his duty or plays irregularity for favoritism in the conferment of the title of honorary citizen, shall be imposed administrative penalty by his unit or relevant department, and shall be investigated for criminal responsibility by the judicial organ if his act constitutes a crime.

Article 12 The municipal people' s government may enact implementing measures according to these rules.