ABSTRACT

The reform of the housing system was among the important matters discussed at the first session of the IXth National People’s Congress (NPC) in March 1998. The newly elected Premier Zhu Rongji confirmed at a press conference at the time of the Congress that housing development would become a new national economic growth point.1 This policy had already been alluded to in the Report on Work of the government by the outgoing Premier Li Peng. That document comprised three sections: a review of the work over the past five years; suggestions by the State Council on the work of the government for 1998; and the international situation and diplomatic work.2