Photo: CFP
Difficulty of Managing Property Rights in Countryside
Industry, page 40
A source from the Ministry of Land and Resources said the ministry recently held a seminar in Chengdu about the transfer of land owned by rural collectives on which construction is permitted.
The seminar is part of a pilot program aimed at reforming rural land rights which is likely to recommend draft regulations before the end of this year.
However, according to a source familiar with the matter, the regulations didn't touch upon the contentious issue of buildings "owned" with what are referred to as "minor property rights".
At present, due to low prices, buildings in the countryside have become popular investments for city dwellers. However, because of the legal grey area of their ownership - urban residents are banned from purchasing rural housing land - they are referred to as minor property rights, in contrast to the normal property rights that apply to ownership of buildings in urban areas.
The Ministry of Land and Resources has made several statements to clarify that minor property rights is not protected by law.
Original article: [Chinese]