Major changes to mainland laws

New laws and regulations that went into effect on New Year’s Day in the mainland will bring sweeping changes to the lives of the people.

According to the new family planning law, which was amended by the national legislature in late December, couples are allowed to have two children starting 1 January.

This ends the one-child policy (一孩政策) that had existed for decades.

Harsher air pollution law grants government regulators more power in environmental quality supervision, allowing them to levy higher fines on offenders.

On the national security front, new antiterrorism law will bring fighting terrorism in as part of China's national security policy.

A new regulation on the permanent residence system, or “hukou” (戶口), allows migrants to apply for residence permits if they satisfy certain conditions.

These include having lived in the specific city for a certain amount of time and have stable jobs, stable places to live or are studying at schools.

Party members will also be subject to tougher disciplinary rules, including anti-corruption ones.

New violations include “making reckless remarks” about the CPC Central Committee and obstructing organisational investigative measures.

(This article is published on Junior Standard on 6 January 2016)

One child policy
www.britannica.com/topic/onechild-policy

Final New PRC Air Law on Air Pollution Prevention and Control
http://en.cleanairchina.org/product/7332.html