ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at urban land policy in China and is in three sections: the historical background; new legislation and proposals for the future. In July 1988, Shanghai granted rights over a piece of land in the Hong Qiao Economic and Technological Development District to a Japanese company through international open tender, the premium for this was paid in United States dollars. However in some cities, like Shenzhen, land use fees are still collected for indigenous land users because the level of the fees is higher than the tax. Over the period from 1988 to 1991 land use tax collected amounted to 8859 million yuan. Land reform has also provided an impetus for redevelopment. Urban land reform has provided a supply of land onto the market to establish a functioning property market. The process of land development depends on the way the developer obtains the land, either through allocation/negotiation or by tender/auction.
