China considers fairer land expropriation compensation to farmers

 BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature is considering fairer recompense for farmers whose land has been expropriated, by breaking the legal compensation ceiling and covering them with a social security package.

A draft amendment¹ to the Land Administration Law, submitted to the bimonthly session of the Standing² Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for its first reading on Monday, addresses the outstanding problems in land expropriation.

Song Dahan, director of the Legislative³ Affairs Office of the State Council, said current legal compensation methods have deficiencies including "low compensation standard, rigid⁴ regulations and a lack of guarantee for the farmers' long-term livelihood⁵ and social security.""Illegal expropriation of rural land frequently occured in some regions. It has become a prominent problem endangering social stability," said Song when briefing lawmakers on the draft.

The draft amendment, which focuses on Article 47, proposes to give "fair compensation" to farmers to "ensure their living standards improve and their long-term livelihood is guaranteed" after land expropriation.

"China is still at the stage when a rural land market has yet to be formed," Song said.

"Fair compensation" means the standard should be set by taking more factors into consideration such as the land location, supply and demand relationship, level of economic and social development, and social security fees instead of only taking into account the annual output of the land before it is expropriated, Song said.

The draft amendment removes the compensation ceiling for rural collective land expropriation which says compensation and relocation subsidies⁶ should be "no more than 30 times the average annual output of the land for three years before it is taken."The ceiling was no longer in accordance with the current economic situation. Many localities have seen compensation standards exceed the current ceiling, Song said.

The draft amendment also includes fees of social security as a new form of compensation.

Farmers, whose land is expropriated and with difficulties in finding a job, could enjoy preferential policies concerning professional training, employment guidance and help in looking for work, Song said.

They could also get subsidies which will be added to their personal accounts to enable them to enjoy better old-age insurance, according to Song.

In addition, the draft amendment sets down the principle of "Compensation and relocation first, expropriation later," Song said.

No expropriation can be conducted before compensation has been paid out, according to the draft amendment.

It entrusted⁷ the State Council, the Cabinet, to work out detailed⁸ measures for compensation and relocation in land expropriation and provincial-level regions could set down their own standard.

Protests over land seizures⁹ have occurred in villages across the country in recent years, prompting calls for better protection of farmers' property rights.

In a keynote report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last month, Chinese leader Hu Jintao pushed for reform of the land expropriation system and the increase of farmers' share of gains in land value.

Dang Guoying, a Rural Economy Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Science researcher, said the Land Administration Law is like the constitution and basic law in field of land.

"Land expropriation is a transfer of production factors. Relevant parties should do their best to conduct the transaction in accordance with market principles," Dang said.

"The draft amendment sets the guiding principles for the State Council to introduce regulations concerning land expropriation compensation," Dang added.

The Land Administration Law was passed by the top legislature in 1986.

The session is being held from Dec. 24 to 28.

1 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

4 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

5 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

6 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 entrusted   

v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He entrusted the task to his nephew. 他把这任务托付给了他的侄儿。
• She was entrusted with the direction of the project. 她受委托负责这项计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

9 seizures   

n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物

参考例句：

• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因，有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句