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TAX

Foreign Companies to Pay Urban Maintenance Tax and Education Tax Starting Today

As of today, foreign companies doing business in China will be required to pay an urban maintenance tax and an additional education tax just like their Chinese counterparts. According to media reports, the new rules mean that foreign and domestic companies now face one unified tax regime and foreign companies no longer receive any special treatment.

China Securities Journal | 2010-12-01

EDUCATION

Over 1.5 Million College Students Applying for Graduate Degrees

More than 1.5 million college graduates have applied to pursue an advanced degree this year, 100,000 more than last year. Applicants for eight universities, including Peking University and Renmin University in Beijing, have exceeded 10,000.

The Beijing Times | 2010-11-30

HOUSING DEMOLITION

Accusations of Anti-Government Violence Follow Three Attempted Suicides

In the morning of November 29, three men in Harbin City in Heilongjiang Province attempted suicide by self-immolation to protest government appropriation of their houses. The local police accused the men of threatening public security and engaging in anti-government acts of violence. The men have been rushed to the hospital and are currently in stable condition.

Dongbei News Online | 2010-11-30

LAW

State Council Strikes Heavy Blow to Speculators

The State Council has revised the Administrative Punishment for Illegal Pricing. Based on the revised version, agencies and individuals that contact each other to hoard commodities and knowingly spread false information about market prices will be severely punished.

The Beijing News | 2010-11-30

HEALTHCARE

By 2015, Patients Will Pay Less Than 30% of Medical Expenses Out of Pocket

By the end of 2015, Chinese patients will be required to pay no more than 30 percent of their actual medical expenses. The central government plans to reduce the ratio of medical expenses paid by individual patients during the period of the 12th Five-Year Plan, according to Zhang Mao, deputy minister and secretary of CPC Committee of the Ministry of Health.

The Beijing Times | 2010-11-30

LAW

New State Compensation Law to Take Effect Next Month

The amended version of the State Compensation Law will be effective starting December 1. According to Jiang Mingan, a law professor from Peking University, the new version will improve the compensation process, raise compensation standards, and provide compensation for psychological damage.

Huaxi Metropolis Daily | 2010-11-29

ENERGY

Guangdong, Jiangsu Suspend Plans to Raise Natural Gas Prices

Guangdong, Jiangsu, Henan and other provinces that had originally planned to raise the local price of natural gas have suspended their plans due to the National Development and Reform Commission's determination to curb inflation. Additionally, the Price Bureau of Hebei Province said that it will not raise the price of natural gas until the end of the year.

The Beijing Times | 2010-11-29