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INTERIM PROVISIONS OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF

Category  FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION Organ of Promulgation  The State Council Status of Effect  In Force
Date of Promulgation  1980-10-30 Effective Date  1980-10-30  


Interim Provisions of the State Council of the People’s Republic of



China on the Administration of Resident Representative Offices of Foreign
Enterprises

(Promulgated by the State Council on October 30, 1980)

    Article 1  These Provisions are formulated with a view to facilitating
the development of international economicand trade contacts and the
administration of resident Representative offices in China of foreign
companies, enterprises and other economic organizations (hereinafter referred
to as “foreign enterprises”).

    Article 2  Any foreign enterprise desiring to establish a resident
representative office in China shall file an application for permission and,
after securing approval, go through the registration procedure. No residence
representative office to be established is allowed to start business
activities as such before approval and registration.

    Article 3  When applying for permission to establish a resident
representative office in China, a foreign enterprise shall submit the
following certificates and papers:

    a) An application form signed by the chairman of the board of directors or
the general manager of the enterprise. The application form shall include such
details as the name of the resident representative office to be established,
the name(s) of the responsible staff member(s), the scope of activity,duration
and site of the office;

    b) The legal document sanctioning the operation of that enterprise issued
by the authorities of the country or the region in which that enterprise
operates;

    c) The capital creditability document(s) issued by the financial
institution(s) having business contacts with that enterprise; and

    d) The credentials and resumes of the staff members of the resident
representative office appointed by that enterprise.

    A banking or insurance institution which desires to open a resident
representative office shall, apart from submitting the certificates and papers
as specified in Paragraphs a, b and d, submit at the same time an annual
report showing the assets and liabilities and losses and profits of teh head
office of that institution, its articles of association and the composition
of its board of directors.

    Article 4  Foreign enterprises wishing to establish residence
representative offices shall, according to their respective lines of business,
apply to one of the following departments for approval:

    a) A trading or manufacturing enterprise or a shipping agency shall apply
to the Ministry of Foreign Trade of the People’s Republic of China;

    b) A financial or insurance institution shall apply to the People’s Bank
of China;

    c) A maritimke shipping enterprise or a maritime shipping agency shall
apply to the Ministry of Communications of the People’s Republic of China;

    d) An air transport enterprise shall apply to the General Administration
of Civil Aviation of China;

    e) Enterprises outside these lines of business shall, according to the
nature of their operations, apply to the competent commissions, ministries or
bureaus under the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

    Article 5  When granted approval to establish a resident office, a foreign
enterprise shall, within 30 days as of the date of approval, approach the
State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of
china, on the strength of the approval document, for going through the
registration procedure. The enterprise shall fill in a registration form, pay
registration fee and receive a registration certificate. the original approval
document shall be recalled in case of failure to register at the expiry of
the specified period.

    Article 6  After the approval for the establishment of a resident
representative office is granted in accordance with the stipulations in
Article 4, the staff members of that office and their families shall, on the
strength of the approval document, go through the necessary formalities with
the local public security organ to obtain residence permits.

    Article 7  When a resident representative office is to change its name,
responsible member(s), scope of operation, duration or address, it shall
apply to the original approving department and, after securing approval,
approach the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, on the strength
of the approval document, for going through the procedure for effecting
changes in registration and pay the fees. It shall also go through the
procedures with the local public security organ for changes of residence
permits.

    Article 8  A residence representative resident office shall, on the
strength of the registration certificates and in accordance with the relevant
stipulations of the Bank of China, open an account at the Bank of China or at
any bank designated by the Bank of China.

    Article 9  A resident representative office and its staff members shall,
in accordance with the stipulations of China’s tax laws, go through the tax
registration procedure with the local tax office and pay taxes accordingly.

    Article 10  A resident representative office and its staff members shall
declare to China’s Customs the imported office articles, articles for daily
use and means of transport and pay customs duties and the consolidated
industrial and commercial taxes as stipulated.

    Imported vehicles and ships shall be registered with the local public
security organ for obtaining the licence plates and permits. Dues shall be
paid to the local tax office for the use of the vehicles and ships.
Unauthorized transferor sale of the above-mentioned imported goods is not
permitted. Where the need to effect a transfer or sale arises, an application
shall be submitted to the Customs for approval before such transfer or sale
can be effected. Such imported goods can be sold only to designated shops.

    Article 11  A resident representative office shall entrust local service
units for foreigners or other service units designated by the Chinese
Government with such matters as renting a house or engaging the service of
Chinese personnel.

    Article 12  The Government of the People’s Republic of China shall
undertake to protect, in accordance with the law, the legitimate rights and
interests of resident representative offices and their staff members and give
them facilities in their normal business activities.

    Article 13  Resident offices are not allowed to install radio stations on
Chinese territory. They shall apply to the local telecommunications bureaus
for the renting of such commercial communications lines or communications
equipment as may be necessary for their business operations.

    Article 14  The staff members of a resident representative office and
their families shall abide by Chinese laws, decrees and relevant regulations
in all their activities in China and in entering and leaving China.

    Article 15  In case a resident representative office and its members
violate these Provisions or engage in other activities in contravention of
Chinese laws, the Chinese authorities have the power to look into the cases
and deal with them in accordance with the law.

    Article 16  A resident representative office, when the duration of
its operation expires, or if it decides
to end its business activities before the due date, shall notify in writing
the original
approving department 30 days in advance of the termination of its operation.
After clearing up nits debts, paying its taxes and winding up other related
matters, the resident office shall go through the formalities with the
original registration certificate-issuing department fo cancelling the
registration and turn in the certificate.

    The foreign enterprise which the said resident representative office
represented, shall continue to be held responsible for any matter that the
said residence representative office may leave unfinished at the time of its
termination.

    Article 17  Those resident representative offices that have already been
established with approval shall, within 30 days of the promulgation of these
Provisions, go through the procedure of registration with the State
Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China on
the strength of their documents of approval.

    Article 18  Any other matter that may not be covered in these Provisions
shall be handled in accordance with the relevant Chinese laws, decrees and
regulations.

    Article 19  Matters relating to resident representatives to be institued
by foreign enterprises shall be dealt with by applying mutandis these
Provisions applicable to the establishment of resident representative offices.

    Article 20  These Provisions shall enter into effect as of the date of
promulgation.






RESOLUTION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS APPROVING THE PROVISIONS OF THE STATE COUNCIL FOR HOME LEAVE FOR WORKERS AND STAFF

MEASURES FOR CONTROL OVER IMPORTED FILMS

Category  CULTURE Organ of Promulgation  The State Council Status of Effect  In Force
Date of Promulgation  1981-10-13 Effective Date  1981-10-13  


Measures for Control Over Imported Films



(Approved by the State Council on October 13, 1981 and promulgated by

the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Customs)

    Article 1  These Measures are formulated for tighter control over imported
films in accordance with the spirit of the Circular Concerning Checking the
Excessive Showing of Films for Restricted Information Only, which was issued
by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and the Central
Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China on April 14, 1980.

    Article 2  The business of importing and releasing films or copies for
preview (including 35-mm, 16-mm and extra-8-mm films, films on video-tapes and
films on videodiscs, which are hereinafter generally referred to as “films”)
from foreign countries and the regions of Hong Kong and Macao shall be
exclusively handled and controlled by the China National Films Release and
Projection Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “the China Films
Corporation”).

    With respect to the import of a film, the Customs shall, on the strength
of the Customs Declaration Form for Imported Goods duly completed and
presented by the China Films Corporation, effect inspection and grant
clearance, With respect to films to be released nationwide for commercial
purposes, formalities to pay Customs duties shall be fulfilled at the time of
the import thereof. Films to be imported for non-commercial purposes shall be
exempted from Customs duties, If, upon approval, films imported for
non-commercial purposes are to be released nationwide after the import
thereof, the China Films Corporation shall, in accordance with the relevant
regulations, fulfil the formalities with the Beijing Customs for retroactive
payment of Customs duties.

    Article 3  With respect to data films imported by the China Cinematheque
(including films selected and purchased from each other by, or exchanged
between, or given to each other as presents by the China Cinematheque and
foreign cinematheques and films purchased through other channels as data), if
they are imported for non-commercial purposes, the Customs shall, on the
strength of the Customs Declaration Form for Imported Goods duly completed and
presented by the China Cinematheque, effect inspection and grant clearance
without levying duties.

    If, upon approval, imported data films need to be released nationwide, the
China Films Corporation shall, in accordance with the relevant regulations,
fulfil the formalities with the Beijing Customs for retroactive payment of
Customs duties.

    Article 4  With respect to specialized documentaries and science and
educational films imported by units of science and technology, industry,
agriculture, education, public health, journalism, foreign trade and foreign
affairs to meet the needs in their business or professional work, if the
importing units are affiliated to departments under the State Council, the
import shall be subject to the examination and approval of the respective
ministries or commissions (or bureaus) under the State Council. If the
importing units are local ones, the import shall be subject to the examination
and approval of the people’s governments of the provinces, autonomous regions
or municipalities directly under the Central Government. At the time of the
import of these films, the Customs shall, on the strength of the documents of
approval issued by the ministries or commissions (or bureaus) concerned under
the State Council or by the people’s governments of the provinces, autonomous
regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government and of the
Customs Declaration Forms for Imported Goods duly completed and presented in
triplicate by the applying units, effect inspection and grant clearance
without levying duties and shall dispatch one copy of the said Forms affixed
with the Customs official seal to the Cinema Administrative Bureau of the
Ministry of Culture for the record.

    Article 5  With respect to feature films presented to mainland
institutions, organizations, schools and other units by foreign organizations
or individuals or by those in the regions of Hong Kong and Macao or in Taiwan
Province, if the recipient units are affiliated to departments under the State
Council, the acceptance shall be subject to the examination and approval of
the Cinema Administrative Bureau of the Ministry of Culture. If the recipient
units are local ones, the acceptance shall be subject to the examination and
approval of the cultural bureaus (or cinema bureaus) of the provinces,
autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government and
shall be reported in writing to the Cinema Administrative Bureau of the
Ministry of Culture for the record.

    At the time of the import of these films, the Customs shall, on the
strength of the Customs Declaration Forms for Imported Goods duly completed
and presented by the recipient units and of the relevant documents of
approval, effect inspection and grant clearance without levying duties.

    The recipient units shall hand the said films over to the China
Cinematheque for unified custody. If the films have to be used to meet the
special business or professional needs, the recipient units may, on the
strength of the documents of approval issued by the higher competent
authorities, pick them up for the reference of the personnel concerned but may
not lend them out, or show them for entertainment purposes or show them to the
public. Upon completion of the reference, the films shall be sent back to the
custody of the China Cinematheque.

    If upon approval, imported feature films are to be released nationwide,
the China Films Corporation shall fulfil the formalities with the Customs for
retroactive payment of Customs duties.

    Article 6  With respect to science and educational films that are sent by
post by foreiners, overseas Chinese and compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and
Taiwan Province or carried in person by them when they enter China’s mainland
to be given to individuals in China as presents for use as reference
materials, the Customs shall permit their import and shall, on the strength of
the Customs Declaration Forms for Imported Goods duly completed and presented
by the individuals that are to accept the films and of the letters of
certification issued by the units where the said individuals belong, effect
inspection and grant clearance without levying duties. With respect to feature
films given to individuals in China as presents, the Customs shall in general
not permit their import and shall send them back. Under special circumstances,
the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Customs shall study
and dispose of them.

    With respect to films that are carried in person by personnel of foreign
embassies (or consulates) in China, resident personnel in China sent by
foreign industrial and commercial enterprises (including resident foreign
correspondents) and foreign experts (including experts in culture and
education, economy, and science and technoloyg) who have been recruited to
work in China (or that are sent to them by post from abroad), the Customs
shall handle them in accordance with the existing relevant provisions. These
films shall, after their import, be placed under the strict control of the
departments concerned and shall be shown only by the aforesaid foreigners
among themselves. Chinese units or individuals are not permitted to borrow
these films for projection.

    Article 7  Business activities with respect to the joint production of
films by China and foreign countries and the joint production of films by
China’s mainland and the regions of Hong Kong and Macao or by the mainland and
Taiwan Province shall all be subject to the administration of the China Films
Joint Production Corporation, with the exception of the business activities of
the three Hong Kong films companies of the Great Wall, the Phoenix and the
Sunlin when they come back to shoot films on the mainland, where the Office of
Hong Kong & Macao Affairs under the State Council shall directly approach the
regions and units concerned for matters in this respect. With respect to the
import of the films jointly produced, the China Films Joint Production
Corporation shall fulfil the formalities of import Customs declaration with
the Customs. If, among these films, there are some that are to be released
nationwide, the China Films Corporation shall, in accordance with the relevant
regulations, fulfil the formalities with the Beijing Customs for retroactive
payment of Customs duties.

    Article 8  Films that are imported in violation of the relevant provisions
or smuggled in shall be dealt with by the Customs in accordance with the
relevant provisions. Those among the confiscated flims that are worth keeping
because of their value for reference may be passed on to the Cinema
Administrative Bureau under the Ministry of Culture, which shall hand them
over to the China Cinematheque for preservation.

    Article 9  These Measures shall go into effect as of the date of
promulgation.






RULES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INCOME TAX LAW FOR FOREIGN ENTERPRISES

Category  TAXATION Organ of Promulgation  The State Council Status of Effect  Invalidated
Date of Promulgation  1982-02-21 Effective Date  1982-01-01 Date of Invalidation  1991-07-01


Rules for the Implementation of the Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China for Foreign Enterprises



(Approved by the State Council on February 17, 1982, promulgated by the

Ministry of Finance on February 21, 1982) (Editor’s Note: These Rules have
been annulled by Rules for the Implementation of the Income Tax Law of the
People’s Republic of China for Enterprises with Foreign Investment and Foreign
Enterprises promulgated on June 30, 1991 and effective as of July 1, 1991)

    Article 1  These Rules are formulated in accordance with the provisions
of Article 18 of the Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China for
Foreign Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as the Tax Law).

    Article 2  “Establishments” mentioned in Article 1 of the Tax Law mean
offices, premises or business agents established by foreign enterprises
within China for production and business operations.

    Offices and premises mentioned in the preceding paragraph mainly include
administrative offices, branches, representative offices, factories and places
for the exploitation of natural resources as well as places for contracted
projects of building, installation, assembly, exploration and other such
projects.

    Article 3  Foreign enterprises and Chinese enterprises involved in
cooperative production or cooperative operations shall, except as otherwise
provided, pay their income taxes respectively.

    Article 4  “Income derived from production and business operations”
mentioned in Article 1 of the Tax Law means income derived from the production
and business operations by foreign enterprises in the fields of industry,
mining, communications, transportation, agriculture, forestry, animal
husbandry, fisheries, poultry farming, commerce, service trades and other
fields of production and business.

    “Other income” mentioned in Article 1 of the Tax Law means income from
dividends and interest; income from leasing or sales of property; income from
transfer of patent rights, proprietary technology, trademark rights,
copyrights and other such property; and other non-operating income.

    Article 5  “Taxable income for the purpose of the imposition of the
local income tax” mentioned in Article 4 of the Tax Law shall have the same
meaning as “taxable income” mentioned in Article 3 of the Tax Law, i.e. it is
calculated according to the formulas listed in Article 9 of these Rules.

    Article 6  “Foreign enterprises with small-scale production and low
profits” mentioned in Paragraph 2 of Article 4 of the Tax Law means foreign
enterprises with an annual income of one million yuan or less.

    Article 7  Foreign enterprises with low rate of profit as mentioned in
Article 5 of the Tax Law include foreign enterprises exploiting deep-mine coal
resources with low rate of profit.

    Article 8  The tax year for foreign enterprises means each year of the
Gregorian calendar commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

    A foreign enterprise which has difficulty in determining its tax liability
on the basis of the tax year stipulated in the preceding paragraph may submit
an application to, and upon approval by the local tax authorities, use the
12-month accounting year of the enterprise to determine its tax liability.

    Article 9  The taxable income shall be calculated according to the
following formulas:

    a. Industry:

    1. manufacturing cost for the period = direct materials consumed in
production for the period + direct labor + manufacturing expenses;

    2. cost of the products manufactured for the period = manufacturing cost
for the period + inventory of semi-finished products and products in process
at the beginning of the period – inventory of semi-finished  and products in
process at the end of the period;

    3. cost of products sold = cost of the products manufactured for the
period + inventory of the products at the beginning of the period – inventory
of the products at the end the period;

    4. net sales = gross sales – (sales returns + sales discounts and
allowances);

    5. profit on sales = net sales – cost of products sold – tax on the sales
– (selling expenses + overhead expenses);

    6. taxable income = profit on sales + profit from other operations +
non-operating income – non-operating expenses.

    b. Commerce:

    1. net sales = gross sales – (sales returns + sales discounts and
allowances);

    2. cost of sales = inventory of merchandise at the beginning of the
period + [purchases of merchandise during the period – (purchase returns +
purchase discounts and allowances) + purchase expenses] – inventory of
merchandise at the end of the period;

    3. profit on sales = net sales – cost of sales – tax on sales – (selling
expenses + overhead expenses);

    4. taxable income = profit on sales + profit from other operation +
non-operating income – non-operating expenses.

    c. Service trades:

    1. net business income = gross business income – (tax on business income
+ operating expenses + overhead expenses);

    2. taxable income = net business income + non-operating income –
non-operating, expenses.

    d. Other lines of business: calculation shall be made with reference to
the above formulas.

    Article 10  The following items shall not be itemized as costs, expenses
or losses in the calculation the taxable income:

    1. expenditures related to the acquisition or construction of machinery,
equipment, building facilities and other fixed assets;

    2. expenditures related to the acquisition of intangible assets;

    3. interest on equity capital;

    4. income tax payments and local income tax payments;

    5. fines for illegal business operations and losses caused by the
confiscation of property;

    6. penalties for the overdue tax payment of taxes and tax fines;

    7. the portion of losses caused by windstorms, floods, fires and other
such disasters which is compensated by insurance proceeds;

    8. donations and contributions other than those used in China for public
welfare and relief purposes;

    9. royalties paid to the head offices; and

    10. other expenses not related to production and business operations.

    Article 11  Reasonable overhead expenses paid by a foreign enterprise to
its head office in connection with the production or business operation of
the enterprise and actual expenses paid to its head office incurred as a
result of services directly provided by the head office, may be itemized as
expenses, subject to examination and approval by the tax authorities of the
locality of the enterprise, provided that certificates, invoices and vouchers,
together with a financial report certified by a certified public accountant,
are supplied by the head office.

    Where an agreement regarding the allocation of the overhead expenses of
the head office exists between a foreign enterprise and a Chinese enterprise
in a contract for cooperative production or cooperative business operations
payments of such expenses may, subject to examination and approval by the
local tax authorities, be itemized as expenses according to the methods
specified in the contract.

    Article 12  A foreign enterprise paying interest on loans shall submit to
the local tax authorities for examination certificates as to the amount of
interest paid, where such loans are consistent with general commercial
practise, a reasonable amount of interest shall be allowed as itemized
expenses.

    Article 13  Reasonable entertainment expenses paid by foreign enterprises
that are related to production and business operations shall, when supported
by authentic records or invoices and vouchers, be allowed respectively as
itemized expenses subject to the following limits:

    1. where annual net sales are 15 million yuan or less, the entertainment
expenses shall not exceed 3 millesimal; where annual net sales exceed 15
million, the entertainment expenses for that portion exceeded shall not exceed
1 millesimal;

    2. where annual gross business income is 5 million yuan or less, the
entertainment expenses shall not exceed 10 millesimal of the gross business
income; where annual gross business income exceeds 5 million yuan, the
expenses for that portion exceeded shall not exceed 3 millesimal.

    Article 14  The depreciation of fixed assets which are already used by
foreign enterprises shall be calculated on an annual basis. Fixed assets mean
houses, buildings, machinery, mechanical apparatuses, means of transport and
other equipment related to production or business operations which has a
useful life of one year or more. Articles not in the nature of major equipment
which are used for production or business operations, and which have a unit
value of 500 yuan or less and a relatively short useful life may be itemized
as expenses on the basis of actual consumption.

    Article 15  The valuation of fixed assets shall be based on the original
value.

    The original value of fixed assets regarded as investment in cooperative
production or cooperative business operations between a foreign enterprise and
a Chinese enterprise shall be the price agreed upon by the parties to the
cooperation.

    The original value of the purchased fixed assets shall be the purchase
price plus transportation expenses, installation expenses and other related
expenses incurred prior to the use of the assets.

    The original value of self-made and self-built fixed assets shall be the
actual expenses incurred on their manufacture or construction.

    Imported fixed assets which are owned and have already been used by a
foreign enterprise shall be revalued according to their condition with
reference to certification provided by the foreign enterprise as to the
original value of the assets and the number of years the assets have been in
use, together with relevant market price information. Where certification
cannot be provided, the enterprise shall carry out the valuation according to
the condition of the assets and submit the valuation to the local tax
authorities for verification.

    Article 16  The depreciation of fixed assets shall be calculated
commencing from the month in which they are put to use. The calculation of
depreciation shall cease in the month following the month in which the fixed
assets cease to be used during the year.

    For enterprises engaged in exploiting off-shore petroleum resources, all
investments at the stage of development shall, taking the oil (gas) field as a
unit, be aggregated and treated as capital expenditure; the computation of
depreciation shall begin in the month in which the oil (gas) field commences
commercial production.

    Article 17  In calculating depreciation of fixed assets, the salvage value
shall be estimated and deducted from the original value; in principle, the
salvage value should be 10% of the original value. In the case of fixed assets
for which it is necessary to retain a lower or no salvage value, the matter
shall be reported to the local tax authorities for approval; if the
depreciation is calculated in accordance with a composite life method, salvage
value may not be retained.

    Depreciation of fixed assets shall generally be calculated using the
straight-line method of depreciation.

    Article 18  In the calculation of depreciation, useful life of the various
categories of fixed assets shall be as follows:

    1. for houses and buildings, the minimum useful life shall be 20 years;

    2. for railway rolling stock, boats and ships, machinery and other
production equipment, the minimum useful life shall be 10 years; and

    3. for electronic equipment, means of transport other than railway rolling
stock and boats and ships, fixtures, tools, furnishings and other assets’
related to production and business operations, the minimum useful life shall
be 5 years.

    Where, for special reasons, a foreign enterprise needs to accelerate
depreciation or change the method of depreciation, an application may be
submitted to the local tax authorities for examination and then transmitted
level by level to the Ministry of Finance for approval. In respect of fixed
assets that are regarded as investments made during and after the development
stage by an enterprise engaged in the exploitation of off-shore oil resources,
depreciation may be calculated on a consolidated composite basis. The
depreciation period shall not be less than 6 years.

    For enterprises engaged in exploiting coal resources, the provisions of
the preceding paragraph may be applied.

    Article 19  Expenditure on expansion, replacement, reconstruction and
technical innovation which result in an increase in the value and the
extension of the useful life of fixed assets already in use shall be treated
as capital expenditure, and shall not be itemized as expenses.

    For the fixed assets remaining in use after having been fully depreciated,
no further depreciation shall be allowed.

    Article 20  The balance of the proceeds from the transfer or disposal of
fixed assets at the current prices shall, after deduction of the undepreciated
amount or the salvage value, be entered into the profit and loss account for
the current year.

    Article 21  Intangible assets such as patent rights, proprietary
technology, trademark rights, copyrights, rights to use sites and other
special rights transferred to a foreign enterprise shall be amortized on the
basis of reasonable cost commencing from the month they are first put in use.

    Intangible assets mentioned in the preceding paragraph regarded as
investments in cooperative production or cooperative business operations
between a foreign enterprise and a Chinese enterprise may be amortized on the
basis of the amount prescribed in the agreement or contracts, commencing from
the month they are first put in use.

    Intangible assets mentioned in the preceding two paragraphs for which a
period of use is specified at the time of transfer or investment may be
amortized in accordance with the specified period; the period of amortization
for assets for which no period of use is specified shall not be less than
10 years.

    Article 22  Expenses incurred during the period or organization of a
foreign enterprise shall be amortized upon the commencement of production or
operation. The period of amortization shall not be less than 5 years.

    Reasonable exploration expenses incurred by a foreign enterprise engaged
in the exploitation of off-shore petroleum resources may be amortized against
income from the oil (or gas) fields that have already commenced commercial
production. The amortization period shall not be less than 1 year.

    Article 23  Inventory of merchandise, raw materials, products in process
of production, semi-finished products, finished products and by-products shall
be valued at cost. The enterprises may choose one of the following methods of
calculation: first-in first-out; moving average; or weighted average. Where a
change in the method of calculation is necessary, the matter shall be reported
to the local tax authorities for approval.

    Article 24  Where a foreign enterprise cannot authenticate its costs and
expenses and cannot accurately determine its taxable income, the local tax
authorities shall appraise and determine its profit rate with reference to the
prevailing profit levels in the same or similar lines of business, and then
calculate its taxable income on the basis of its net sales or its gross
business income.

    The taxable income of a foreign enterprise engaged in contracted projects
for the exploration or development of off-shore petroleum resources shall be
calculated according to the profit rate appraised and determined on the basis
of its gross income derived from the contracted project.

    Article 25  For foreign airlines or ocean shipping enterprises engaged in
international transport business, the taxable income shall be 5% of their
gross income derived from transport services for passengers and/or cargoes
loaded in China.

    Article 26  A foreign enterprise engaged in cooperative production with a
Chinese enterprise under a product-sharing arrangement shall be deemed to
receive income at the time products are allocated; the amount of income
received shall be computed on the basis of the sales price to the third party
or with reference to the prevailing, market price at the time allocation.

    A foreign enterprise engaged in the cooperative exploitation of off-shore
petroleum resources shall be deemed to receive income at the time the crude
oil is divided; the amount of income received shall be computed on the basis
of a price which is adjusted periodically with reference to the international
market price for crude oil of similar quality.

    Article 27  “Dividends, interest, rentals, royalties and other income with
a source in China” mentioned in Article 11 of the Tax Law, shall be construed
as follows:

    “dividends” means dividends or profits in respect of shares received from
enterprises in China;

    “interest” means interest on deposits or loans, interest on all types of
bonds and debentures, interest on amounts advanced, overdue payments and
similar items or interest received from sources within China;

    “rentals” means rentals received from the leasing of property to a lessee
in China:

    “royalties” means income received from the assignment of patent rights,
proprietary technology, copyrights, trademark rights and other such property
for use in China;

    “other income” means income other than the preceding categories of income
which the Ministry of Finance determines to be subject to tax.

    Article 28  The amount of tax to be paid on dividends, interest, rentals,
royalties and other income with a source in China as mentioned in the
preceding Article shall, except as otherwise provided, be computed on the
basis of gross income; the unit making the payment shall withhold the tax from
each payment.

    Article 29  “International financial organizations” mentioned in Article
11 of the Tax Law means financial institutions under the aegis of the United
Nations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the
International Development Association, the International Fund for Agricultural
Development; “preferential interest” mentioned means a rate at least 10% lower
than the average rate on the international financial markets.

    Article 30  “China’s state banks” mentioned in Article 11 of the Tax Law
include the people’s Bank of China, the Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank
of China, the People’s Construction Bank of China, the Investment Bank of
China, and international trust and investment corporations that are approved
by the State Council to conduct foreign exchange deposit, loan and credit
business with foreign clients.

    Article 31  “Income from interest on deposits”, mentioned in Paragraph 4
of Article 11 of the Tax Law shall not include the interest received by
foreign banks on deposits with China’s state banks at a rate lower than the
rate on the international financial markets. Income received from interest on
deposits at a rate lower than the rate on the international financial markets
shall be exempted from income tax.

    Article 32  “Amount of payment” mentioned in Article 11 of the Tax Law
includes payments in cash, payments by remittance, payments through transfer
accounts, as well as payments made in marketable securities or in kind which
are rendered into equivalent amounts of money.

    Article 33  Income tax to be paid in advance in quarterly instalments as
stipulated in Article 7 of the Tax Law may be calculated on the basis of the
actual quarterly profit, or on the basis of one quarter of either the current
year’s planned annual profit or the actual income in the preceding year.

    Article 34  Income tax on a foreign enterprise which is in operation for
less than one year shall be calculated and paid on the basis of actual income
derived during the period of the operation according to the tax rates
prescribed by the Tax Law.

    Article 35  A foreign enterprise which commences operations or ceases
operations shall complete tax registration procedures with the local tax
authorities within 30 days after commencement of operations, or within 30 days
before the termination of the operations, respectively, in accordance with the
provisions of Article 10 of the Tax Law.

    Article 36  A foreign enterprise shall, whether realizing profits or
losses in a tax year, file its income tax returns and final accounting
statements with the local tax authorities within the prescribed period and,
except as otherwise stipulated, shall also include an audit statement of
certified public accountants registered in the People’s Republic of China.

    Article 37  In case of failure to submit the tax returns within the
prescribed time limit owing to special reasons, the foreign enterprise shall
submit an application to the local tax authorities within the said time limit,
and the time limit for filing tax returns and accordingly that for final
settlement may be appropriately extended upon file latter’s approval.

    The final day of the time limit for tax payment and that for filing tax
returns may be postponed to the next business day if it falls on a public
holiday.

    Article 38  In principle, foreign enterprises shall use the accrual
method of accounting to calculate their income and expenses. All accounting
records shall be accurate, complete and supported by valid vouchers as the
basis for entries.

    Article 39  Accounting vouchers, books, statements and reports adopted by
foreign enterprises shall be kept in the Chinese language, or in both Chinese
and a foreign language.

    Accounting vouchers, books, statements and reports shall be retained for
at least 15 years.

    Article 40  Forms of sales invoices and business receipts used by a
foreign enterprise shall be submitted to the local tax authorities for
approval prior to use.

    Article 41  Officials assigned by the tax authorities to conduct
investigations of the financial, accounting and tax affairs of a foreign
enterprise shall produce identification cards and undertake to maintain
confidentiality.

    Article 42  Income earned by a foreign enterprise in foreign currencies
shall, for the purpose of advance quarterly payments of tax, be converted into
Renminbi according to the foreign exchange rate quoted by the State General
Administration of Exchange Control on the day when the receipt for payment of
tax is issued; for the purpose of the additional tax payable or the tax
refundable on final settlement at the year-end, the income in foreign
currencies shall be converted into Renminbi according to the foreign exchange
rate quoted by the State General Administration of Exchange Control on the
last day of the tax year.

    Article 43  The Tax authorities may, according to the seriousness of the
case, impose a fine of 5,000 yuan or less on a foreign enterprise which
violates the provisions of Article 8, Paragraph 1 of Article 9, Article 10 or
Article 12 of the Tax Law.

    Article 44  The tax authorities may, according to the seriousness of the
case, impose a fine of 5,000 yuan or less on a foreign enterprise which
violates the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Article 39 and Article 4O of these
Rules.

    Article 45  The evasion of or refusal to pay tax mentioned in Paragraph
3 of Article 15 of the Tax Law shall be construed as follows:

    “Tax evasion” means the illegal actions of a taxpayer who has
intentionally violated the provisions of the Tax Law by such means as
falsifying, altering or destorying account books, receipts or accounting
vouchers; falsely itemizing or overstating costs and expenses; concealing or
understanding taxable income or receipts; or avoiding taxes or fraudulently
recovering taxes already paid.

    “Refuse to pay tax” means the illegal actions of a taxpayer who has
violated the provisions of the Tax Law by such means as refusing to file
tax returns or to provide documentation of tax payment, invoices or vouchers;
refusing to agree to investigations by the tax authorities of its financial,
accounting and tax affairs; or refusing to pay tax or fines in accordance
with the law.

    Article 46  Notice of disposal of a violation shall be served in those
cases in which the tax authorities impose a fine in accordance with the
provisions of the Tax Law and these Rules.

    Article 47  When a foreign enterprise applies for reconsideration of a
case in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of the Tax Law, the tax
authorities concerned shall decide upon the disposal of the case within 3
months after receipt of the application.

    Article 48  Standardized income tax returns and tax payment receipts to
be used by foreign enterprises shall be printed by the General Taxation
Bureau of the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China.

    Article 49  The right to interpret these Rules shall reside with the
Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China.

    Article 50  These Rules shall become effective on the same date of
promulgation and effective date of the Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic
of China for Foreign Enterprises.






CIRCULAR ON TAXATION OF CHINESE-FOREIGN EQUITY JOINT VENTURES AND CONTRACTUAL JOINT VENTURES

The State Council

Circular on Taxation of Chinese-foreign Equity Joint Ventures and Contractual Joint Ventures

the State Council

September 21, 1982

On September 10, 1980, the National People’s Congress promulgated “The Income Tax Law on Chinese-foreign Equity Joint Ventures” and
” The Individual Income Tax Law”; and later on December 13, 1981, it also issued “The Income Tax Law on Foreign Enterprises”. Before
the promulgation of these laws, some localities, departments and enterprises, on the approval by the competent authorities of the
state, had signed contracts of joint ventures and cooperative operations with foreign and Hongkong businessmen, some of which included
the provisions for the payment of taxes. The State Administration of Taxation and the Ministry of Finance has laid down that the
question of tax payment should be carried out according to the original provisions in the contracts. But as things are, there still
remain some disputes and arguments on this point. In order to implement the policy correctly, the following Circular is made:

(1)

Before the promulgation of “The Income Tax Law on Chinese-foreign Equity Joint Ventures” and “The Income Tax Law on Foreign Enterprises”,
any contract signed with the approval of the competent authorities of the state, with foreign and Hongkong firms for joint ventures
and cooperative operations which provides a preferential treatment of income tax payment on their enterprises, and which states clearly
that the import goods necessary for the projects will be given a preferential treatment of taxation should be carried out according
to the original provisions.

(2)

Provisions on preferential treatment of taxation given to foreign and Hongkong businessmen for their income derived from their permission
to use their patent and copyrights should also be carried out according to the original contracts.

(3)

Before “The Individual Income Tax Law” was promulgated, provided it has been approved by the competent authorities of the state, any
preferential treatment of income tax given to an individual should also be carried out according to the original provisions as stipulated
in the contracts.

The above three points should continue until the original contracts expire. If the contracts are extended, tax should be paid according
to the regulations of “The Income Tax Law on Chinese-foreign Equity Joint Ventures”. “The Income Tax Law on Foreign Enterprises”
and “The Individual Income Tax Law”. All financial and tax departments should act accordingly; any question raised in the enforcement
should be clarified by the Ministry of Finance.



 
The State Council
1982-09-21

 







PROCEDURES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS FOR LABOUR MANAGEMENT IN JOINT VENTURES USING CHINESE AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT

MINIMUM SANITARY REQUIREMENTS FOR FACTORIES AND STOREHOUSES OF FOOD FOR EXPORT

REGULATIONS CONCERNING CUSTOMS SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF GOODS BEING PROCESSED

DECISION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS APPROVING THE CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION’S REGULATIONS FOR CONFERRING ON RETIRED OFFICERS HONOURARY MEDALS OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN THECHINESE PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY

Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Approving the Central Military Commission’s Regulations for Conferring
on Retired Officers Honourary Medals of Meritorious Service in theChinese People’s Liberation Army
(Adopted on July 1, 1988)

The Second Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People’s Congress has decided to approve the
Central Military Commission’s Regulations for Conferring on Retired Officers Honourary Medals of Meritorious Service in the Chinese
People’s Liberation Army, which shall be promulgated by the Central Military Commission for implementation. 

Appendix: 

Regulations of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China for Conferring on Retired Officers Honourary Medals
of Meritorious Service in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army 

(Approved at the Second Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People’s Congress on July 1, 1988 and promulgated
by the Order of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China on July 13, 1988) 

In order to commend the historical merits of officers who joined the armed forces or joined in revolutionary work during the period
of the Chinese people’s revolutionary wars and encourage them to maintain and develop the revolutionary tradition, the Central Military
Commission of the People’s Republic of China has decided to confer on retired officers honourary medals of meritorious service in
the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (CPLA). For this purpose, the following provisions are formulated: 

Article 1  The CPLA’s honourary medals of meritorious service shall consist of three types: the CPLA Red Star Honourary Medal
of Meritorious Service (classified into two grades), the CPLA Independence Honourary Medal of Meritorious Service, and the CPLA Victory
Honourary Medal of Meritorious Service. 

Article 2  The CPLA Red Star Honourary  Medal of Meritorious Service, First Grade, shall be conferred on the following
personnel: 

(1) Retired officers who joined the armed forces or joined in revolutionary work not later than July 6, 1937, and on whom the rank
of Major General or a higher rank was conferred not later than May 21, 1965; and 

(2) Retired officers who joined the armed forces or joined in revolutionary work not later than July 6, 1937, and who held leading
positions at or above the provincial or ministerial level not later than May 21, 1965. 

Article 3  The CPLA Red Star Honourary Medal of Meritorious Service, Second Grade, shall be conferred on the following personnel: 

(1) Retired officers who joined the armed forces or joined in revolutionary work not later than July 6, 1937, and on whom the rank
of Senior Colonel or a lower rank was conferred not later than May 21, 1965, or on whom no military rank has been conferred; 

(2) Retired officers who joined the armed forces or joined in revolutionary work not later than July 6, 1937, and on whom the rank
of Major General or a higher rank was conferred, but who were punished by a demotion in position or rank or were removed from their
positions on or after May 22, 1965; and 

(3) Retired officers who joined the armed forces or joined in revolutionary work not later than July 6, 1937, and who held leading
positions at or above the provincial or ministerial level not later than May 21, 1965, but who were punished by a demotion in position
or rank or were removed from their positions on or after May 22, 1965. 

Article 4  The CPLA Independence Honourary Medal of Meritorious Service shall be conferred on retired officers who joined the
armed forces or joined in revolutionary work during the period from July 7, 1937 to September 2, 1945. 

Article 5  The CPLA Victory Honourary Medal of Meritorious Service shall be conferred on retired officers who joined the armed
forces or joined in  revolutionary work during the period from September 3, 1945 to September 30, 1949. 

Article 6   For retired officers who committed serious mistakes but for whom no conclusion has been drawn and no disposition
has been made, a decision to confer or not to confer the honourary medals of meritorious service on them shall be made in accordance
with these Regulations after a conclusion is drawn and a disposition made. 

Article 7   No honourary medal of meritorious service shall be conferred on anyone who joined the armed forces or joined
in revolutionary work not later than September 30, 1949, but is not treated as a retired officer because of his serious mistake. 

Article 8   The conferment of the CPLA honourary medals of meritorious service on retired officers shall be conducted upon
a decision made by the Central Military Commission and an order issued by the Chairman of the Central Military Commission. 

Article 9  Personnel awarded with the CPLA honourary medals of meritorious service shall be given the following favoured treatment
in the armed forces: 

(1) In the light of actual conditions, they may be asked to attend important holiday rallies and military reviews, and some of them
may be invited to the rostrum, visitors’ stand or the reviewing stand; 

(2) In the light of actual conditions, they may be invited to watch military manoeuvres of the armed forces stationed in their localities; 

(3) In the light of actual conditions, those who have special knowledge or have made outstanding achievements in certain areas may
be given priority in being invited to hold honourary positions; 

(4) They shall be awarded with a fixed amount of honourary bonus. 

Article 10  For a person awarded with a CPLA honourary medal of meritorious service who is sentenced for violation of the Criminal
Law, whether he is to be deprived of the medal shall be decided by the Central Military Commission. A person deprived of his honourary
medal of meritorious service shall no longer enjoy any of the various kinds of favoured treatment specified in Article 9 of these
Regulations. 

Article 11   It is forbidden to forge, falsely claim or sell the CPLA honourary medals of meritorious service and the certificates
for such medals. The violators shall be punished.  The honourary medals of meritorious service shall not be reissued once they
are lost. 

Article 12   The CPLA  honourary medals of meritorious service shall be conferred, in accordance with the present
Regulations, on officers who hold positions in such institutions as the Chinese Communist Party’s Advisory Commissions, the Standing
Committees of the People’s Congresses and the Political Consultative Conferences at various levels but who no longer hold any position
in the armed forces. 

Article 13  The General Political Department of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army shall, in line with these Regulations,
work out measures of implementation, which shall go into effect after being submitted to and approved by the Central Military Commission. 

Article 14    These Regulations shall come into force on the date of promulgation.

Notice: All Rights Reserved to the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.







ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE LAW

Category  LITIGATION Organ of Promulgation  The National People’s Congress Status of Effect  In Force
Date of Promulgation  1989-04-04 Effective Date  1990-10-01  


Administrative Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China

Contents
Chapter I  General Provisions
Chapter II  Scope of Accepting Cases
Chapter III  Jurisdiction
Chapter IV  Participants in Proceedings
Chapter V  Evidence
Chapter Vl  Bringing a Suit and Accepting a Case
Chapter VII  Trial and Judgment
Chapter VII  Execution
Chapter IX  Liability for Compensation for Infringement of Rights
Chapter X  Administrative Procedure Involving Foreign Interests
Chapter XI  Supplementary Provisions

(Adopted at the Second Session of the Seventh National People’s Congress

on April 4, 1989, promulgated by Order No. 16 of the President of the People’s
Republic of China on April 4, 1989, and effective as of October 1, 1990)
Contents

    Chapter I    General Provisions

    Chapter II   Scope of Accepting Cases

    Chapter III  Jurisdiction

    Chapter IV   Participants in Proceedings

    Chapter V    Evidence

    Chapter VI   Bringing a Suit and Accepting a Case

    Chapter VII  Trial and Judgment

    Chapter VIII Execution

    Chapter IX   Liability for Compensation for Infringement of Rights

    Chapter X    Administrative Procedure Involving Foreign Interest

    Chapter XI   Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I  General Provisions

    Article 1  Pursuant to the Constitution, this Law is enacted for the
purpose of ensuring the correct and prompt handling of administrative cases
by the people’s courts, protecting the lawful rights and interests of
citizens, legal persons and other organizations, and safeguarding and
supervising the exercise of administrative powers by administrative organs in
accordance with the law.

    Article 2  If a citizen, a legal person or any other organization
considers that his or its lawful rights and interests have been infringed upon
by a specific administrative act of an administrative organ or its personnel,
he or it shall have the right to bring a suit before a people’s court in
accordance with this Law.

    Article 3  The people’s courts shall, in accordance with the law, exercise
judicial power independently with respect to administrative cases, and shall
not be subject to interference by any administrative organ, public
organization or individual.

    The people’s courts shall set up administrative divisions for the handling
of administrative cases.

    Article 4  In conducting administrative proceedings, the people’s courts
shall base themselves on facts and take the law as the criterion.

    Article 5  In handling administrative cases, the people’s courts shall
examine the legality of specific administrative acts.

    Article 6  In handling administrative cases, the people’s courts shall, as
prescribed by law, apply the systems of collegial panel, withdrawal of
judicial personnel and public trial and a system whereby the second instance
is the final instance.

    Article 7  Parties to an administrative suit shall have equal legal
positions.

    Article 8  Citizens of all nationalities shall have the right to use their
native spoken and written languages in administrative proceedings.

    In an area where people of a minority nationality live in concentrated
communities or where a number of nationalities live together, the people’s
courts shall conduct adjudication and issue legal documents in the language or
languages commonly used by the local nationalities.

    The people’s courts shall provide interpretation for participants in
proceedings who do not understand the language or languages commonly used by
the local nationalities.

    Article 9  Parties to an administrative suit shall have the right to
debate.

    Article 10  The people’s procuratorates shall have the right to exercise
legal supervision over administrative proceedings.
Chapter II  Scope of Accepting Cases

    Article 11  The people’s courts shall accept suits brought by citizens,
legal persons or other organizations against any of the following specific
administrative acts:

    (1) an administrative sanction, such as detention, fine, rescission of a
license or permit, order to suspend production or business or confiscation of
property, which one refuses to accept;

    (2) a compulsory administrative measure, such as restricting freedom of
the person or the sealing up, seizing or freezing of property, which one
refuses to accept;

    (3) infringement upon one’s managerial decision-making powers, which is
considered to have been perpetrated by an administrative organ;

    (4) refusal by an administrative organ to issue a permit or license, which
one considers oneself legally qualified to apply for, or its failure to
respond to the application;

    (5) refusal by an administrative organ to perform its statutory duty of
protecting one’s rights of the person and of property, as one has applied for,
or its failure to respond to the application;

    (6) cases where an administrative organ is considered to have failed to
issue a pension according to law;

    (7) cases where an administrative organ is considered to have illegally
demanded the performance of duties; and

    (8) cases where an administrative organ is considered to have infringed
upon other rights of the person and of property.

    Apart from the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraphs, the
people’s courts shall accept other administrative suits which may be brought
in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and regulations.

    Article 12  The people’s courts shall not accept suits brought by
citizens, legal persons or other organizations against any of the following
matters:

    (1) acts of the state in areas like national defence and foreign affairs;

    (2) administrative rules and regulations, regulations, or decisions and
orders with general binding force formulated and announced by administrative
organs;

    (3) decisions of an administrative organ on awards or punishments for its
personnel or on the appointment or relief of duties of its personnel; and

    (4) specific administrative acts that shall, as provided for by law, be
finally decided by an administrative organ.
Chapter III  Jurisdiction

    Article 13  The basic people’s courts shall have jurisdiction as courts of
first instance over administrative cases.

    Article 14  The intermediate people’s courts shall have jurisdiction as
courts of first instance over the following administrative cases:

    (1) cases of confirming patent rights of invention and cases handled by
the Customs;

    (2) suits against specific administrative acts undertaken by departments
under the State Council or by the people’s governments of provinces,
autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government;
and

    (3) grave and complicated cases in areas under their jurisdiction.

    Article 15  The higher people’s courts shall have jurisdiction as courts
of first instance over grave and complicated administrative cases in areas
under their jurisdiction.

    Article 16  The Supreme People’s Court shall have jurisdiction as a court
of first instance over grave and complicated administrative cases in the whole
country.

    Article 17  An administrative case shall be under the jurisdiction of the
people’s court in the locality of the administrative organ that initially
undertook the specific administrative act. A reconsidered case in which the
organ conducting the reconsideration has amended the original specific
administrative act may also be placed under the jurisdiction of the people’s
court in the locality of the administrative organ conducting the
reconsideration.

    Article 18  A suit against compulsory administrative measures restricting
freedom of the person shall be under the jurisdiction of a people’s court in
the place where the defendant or the plaintiff is located.

    Article 19  An administrative suit regarding a real property shall be
under the jurisdiction of the people’s court in the place where the real
property is located.

    Article 20  When two or more people’s courts have jurisdiction over a
suit, the plaintiff may have the option to bring the suit in one of these
people’s courts. If the plaintiff brings the suit in two or more people’s
courts that have jurisdiction over the suit, the people’s court that first
receives the bill of complaint shall have jurisdiction.

    Article 21  If a people’s court finds that a case it has accepted is not
under its jurisdiction, it shall transfer the case to the people’s court that
does have jurisdiction over the case. The people’s court to which the case has
been transferred shall not on its own initiative transfer it to another
people’s court.

    Article 22  If a people’s court which has jurisdiction over a case is
unable to exercise its jurisdiction for special reasons, a people’s court at a
higher level shall designate another court to exercise the jurisdiction.

    If a dispute arises over jurisdiction between people’s courts, it shall be
resolved by the parties to the dispute through consultation. If the dispute
cannot be resolved through consultation, it shall be reported to a people’s
court superior to the courts in dispute for the designation of jurisdiction.

    Article 23  People’s courts at higher levels shall have the authority to
adjudicate administrative cases over which people’s courts at lower levels
have jurisdiction as courts of first instance; they may also transfer
administrative cases over which they themselves have jurisdiction as courts of
first instance to people’s courts at lower levels for trial.

    If a people’s court deems it necessary for an administrative case of first
instance under its jurisdiction to be adjudicated by a people’s court at a
higher level, it may report to such a people’s court for decision.
Chapter IV  Participants in Proceedings

    Article 24  A citizen, a legal person or any other organization that
brings a suit in accordance with this Law shall be a plaintiff.

    If a citizen who has the right to bring a suit is deceased, his near
relatives may bring the suit.

    If a legal person or any other organization that has the right to bring a
suit terminates, the legal person or any other organization that succeeds to
its rights may bring the suit.

    Article 25  If a citizen, a legal person or any other organization, brings
a suit directly before a people’s court, the administrative organ that
undertook the specific administrative act shall be the defendant.

    For a reconsidered case, if the organ that conducted the reconsideration
sustains the original specific administrative act, the administrative organ
that initially undertook the act shall be the defendant; if the organ that
conducted the reconsideration has amended the original specific administrative
act, the administrative organ which conducted the reconsideration shall be the
defendant.

    If two or more administrative organs have undertaken the same specific
administrative act, the administrative organs that have jointly undertaken the
act shall be the joint defendants.

    If a specific administrative act has been undertaken by an organization
authorized to undertake the act by the law or regulations, the organization
shall be the defendant.

    If a specific administrative act has been undertaken by an organization as
entrusted by an administrative organ, the entrusting organ shall be the
defendant.

    If an administrative organ has been abolished, the administrative organ
that carries on the exercise of functions and powers of the abolished organ
shall be the defendant.

    Article 26  A joint suit shall be constituted when one party or both
parties consist of two or more persons and the administrative cases are
against the same specific administrative act or against the specific
administrative acts of the same nature and the people’s court considers that
the cases can be handled together.

    Article 27  If any other citizen, legal person or any other organization
has interests in a specific administrative act under litigation, he or it may,
as a third party, file a request to participate in the proceedings or may
participate in them when so notified by the people’s court.

    Article 28  Any citizen with no capacity to take part in litigation shall
have one or more legal representatives who will act on his behalf in a suit.
If the legal representatives try to shift their responsibilities onto each
other, the people’s court may appoint one of them as the representative of the
principal in litigation.

    Article 29  Each party or legal representative may entrust one or two
persons to represent him in litigation.

    A lawyer, a public organization, a near relative of the citizen bringing
the suit, or a person recommended by the unit to which the citizen bringing
the suit belongs or any other citizen approved by the people’s court may be
entrusted as an agent ad litem.

    Article 30  A lawyer who serves as an agent ad litem may consult materials
pertaining to the case in accordance with relevant provisions, and may also
investigate among and collect evidence from the organizations and citizens
concerned. If the information involves state secrets or the private affairs of
individuals, he shall keep it confidential in accordance with relevant
provisions of the law.

    With the approval of the people’s court, parties and other agents ad litem
may consult the materials relating to the court proceedings of the case,
except those that involve state secrets or the private affairs of individuals.
Chapter V  Evidence

    Article 31  Evidence shall be classified as follows:

    (1) documentary evidence;

    (2) material evidence;

    (3) audio-visual material;

    (4) testimony of witnesses;

    (5) statements of the parties;

    (6) expert conclusions; and

    (7) records of inquests and records made on the scene.

    Any of the above-mentioned evidence must be verified by the court before
it can be taken as a basis for ascertaining a fact.

    Article 32  The defendant shall have the burden of proof for the specific
administrative act he has undertaken and shall provide the evidence and
regulatory documents in accordance with which the act has been undertaken.

    Article 33  In the course of legal proceedings, the defendant shall not by
himself collect evidence from the plaintiff and witnesses.

    Article 34  A people’s court shall have the authority to request the
parties to provide or supplement evidence.

    A people’s court shall have the authority to obtain evidence from the
relevant administrative organs, other organizations or citizens.

    Article 35  In the course of legal proceedings, when a people’s court
considers that an expert evaluation for a specialized problem is necessary,
the expert evaluation shall be made by an expert evaluation department as
specified by law. In the absence of such a department, the people’s court
shall designate one to conduct the expert evaluation.

    Article 36  Under circumstances where there is a likelihood that evidence
may be destroyed or lost or difficult to obtain later on, the participants
in proceedings may apply to the people’s court for the evidence to be
preserved. The people’s court may also on its own initiative take measures to
preserve such evidence.
Chapter Vl  Bringing a Suit and Accepting a Case

    Article 37  A citizen, a legal person or any other organization may,
within the scope of cases acceptable to the people’s courts, apply to an
administrative organ at the next higher level or to an administrative organ as
prescribed by the law or regulations for reconsideration, anyone who refuses
to accept the reconsideration decision may bring a suit before a people’s
court; a citizen, a legal person or any other organization may also bring a
suit directly before a people’s court.

    In circumstances where, in accordance with relevant provisions of laws or
regulations, a citizen, a legal person or any other organization shall first
apply to an administrative organ for reconsideration and then bring a suit
before a people’s court, if he or it refuses to accept the reconsideration
decision, the provisions of the laws or regulations shall apply.

    Article 38  If a citizen, a legal person or any other organization applies
to an administrative organ for reconsideration, the organ shall make a
decision within two months from the day of the receipt of the application,
except as otherwise provided for by law or regulations. Anyone who refuses to
accept the reconsideration decision may bring a suit before a people’s court
within 15 days from the day of the receipt of the reconsideration decision.

    If the administrative organ conducting the reconsideration fails to make a
decision on the expiration of the time limit, the applicant may bring a suit
before a people’s court within 15 days after the time limit for
reconsideration expires, except as otherwise provided for by law.

    Article 39  If a citizen, a legal person or any other organization brings
a suit directly before a people’s court, he or it shall do so within three
months from the day when he or it knows that a specific administrative act has
been undertaken, except as otherwise provided for by law.

    Article 40  If a citizen, a legal person or any other organization fails
to observe the time limit prescribed by law due to force majeure or other
special reasons, he or it may apply for an extention of the time limit within
ten days after the obstacle is removed; the requested extention shall be
decided by a people’s court.

    Article 41  The following requirements shall be met when a suit is brought:

    (1) the plaintiff must be a citizen, a legal person or any other
organization that considers a specific administrative act to have infringed
upon his or its lawful rights and interests;

    (2) there must be a specific defendant or defendants;

    (3) there must be a specific claim and a corresponding factual basis for
the suit; and

    (4) the suit must fall within the scope of cases acceptable to the
people’s courts and the specific jurisdiction of the people’s court where it
is filed.

    Article 42  When a people’s court receives a bill of complaint, it shall,
upon examination, file a case within seven days or decide to reject the
complaint. If the plaintiff refuses to accept the decision, he may appeal to a
people’s court.
Chapter VII  Trial and Judgment

    Article 43  A people’s court shall send a copy of the bill of complaint to
the defendant within five days of filing the case. The defendant shall provide
the people’s court with the documents on the basis of which a specific
administrative act has been undertaken and file a bill of defence within ten
days of receiving the copy of the bill of complaint. The people’s court shall
send a copy of the bill of defence to the plaintiff within five days of
receiving it.

    Failure by the defendant to file a bill of defence shall not prevent the
case from being tried by the people’s court.

    Article 44  During the time of legal proceedings, execution of the
specific administrative act shall not be suspended. Execution of the specific
administrative act shall be suspended under one of the following circumstances:

    (1) where suspension is deemed necessary by the defendant;

    (2) where suspension of execution is ordered by the people’s court at the
request of the plaintiff because, in the view of the people’s court, execution
of the specific administrative act will cause irremediable losses and
suspension of the execution will not harm public interests; or

    (3) where suspension of execution is required by the provisions of laws or
regulations.

    Article 45  Administrative cases in the people’s courts shall be tried in
public, except for those that involve state secrets or the private affairs of
individuals or are otherwise provided for by law.

    Article 46  Administrative cases in the people’s courts shall be tried by
a collegial panel of judges or of judges and assessors. The number of members
of a collegial panel shall be an odd number of three or more.

    Article 47  If a party considers a member of the judicial personnel to
have an interest in the case or to be otherwise related to it, which may
affect the impartial handling of thc case, the party shall have the right to
demand his withdrawal.

    If a member of the judicial personnel considers himself to have an
interest in the case or to be otherwise related to it, he shall apply for
withdrawal.

    The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall apply to court
clerks, interpreters, expert witnesses and persons who conduct inquests.

    The withdrawal of the president of the court as the chief judge shall be
decided by the court’s adjudication committee; the withdrawal of a member of
the judicial personnel shall be decided by the president of the court; the
withdrawal of other personnel shall be decided by the chief judge. Parties who
refuse to accept the decision may apply for reconsideration.

    Article 48  If the plaintiff refuses to appear in court without justified
reasons after being twice legally summoned by the people’s court, the court
shall consider this an application for the withdrawal of the suit; if the
defendant refuses to appear in court without justified reasons, the court may
make a judgment by default.

    Article 49  If a participant in the proceedings or any other person
commits any of the following acts, the people’s court may, according to the
seriousness of his offence, reprimand him, order him to sign a statement of
repentance or impose upon him a fine of not more than 1,000 yuan or detain him
for not longer than 15 days; if a crime is constituted, his criminal
responsibility shall be investigated:

    (1) evading without reason, refusing to assist in or obstructing the
execution of the notice of a people’s court for assistance in its execution by
person who has the duty to render assistance;

    (2) forging, concealing or destroying evidence;

    (3) instigating, suborning or threatening others to commit perjury or
hindering witnesses from giving testimony;

    (4) concealing, transferring, selling or destroying the property that has
been sealed up, seized or frozen;

    (5) using violence, threats or other means to hinder the personnel of a
people’s court from performing their duties or disturbing the order of the
work of a people’s court; or

    (6) insulting, slandering, framing, beating or retaliating against the
personnel of a people’s court, participants in proceedings or personnel who
assist in the execution of duties;

    A fine or detention must be approved by the president of a people’s court.
Parties who refuse to accept the punishment decision may apply for
reconsideration.

    Article 50  A people’s court shall not apply conciliation in handling an
administrative case.

    Article 51  Before a people’s court announces its judgment or order on an
administrative case, if the plaintiff applies for the withdrawal of the suit,
or if the defendant amends its specific administrative act and, as a result,
the plaintiff agrees and applies for the withdrawal of the suit, the people’s
court shall decide whether or not to grant the approval.

    Article 52  In handling administrative cases, the people’s courts shall
take the law, administrative rules and regulations and local regulations as
the criteria. Local regulations shall be applicable to administrative cases
within the corresponding administrative areas.

    In handling administrative cases of a national autonomous area, the
people’s courts shall also take the regulations on autonomy and separate
regulations of the national autonomous area as the criteria.

    Article 53  In handling administrative cases, the people’s courts shall
take, as references, regulations formulated and announced by ministries or
commissions under the State Council in accordance with the law and
administrative rules and regulations, decisions or orders of the State Council
and regulations formulated and announced, in accordance with the law and
administrative rules and regulations of the State Council, by the people’s
governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under
the Central Government, of the cities where the people’s governments of
provinces and autonomous regions are located, and of the larger cities
approved as such by the State Council.

    If a people’s court considers regulations formulated and announced by a
local people’s government to be inconsistent with regulations formulated and
announced by a ministry or commission under the State Council, or if it
considers regulations formulated and announced by ministries or commissions
under the State Council to be inconsistent with each other, the Supreme
People’s Court shall refer the matter to the State Council for interpretation
or ruling.

    Article 54  After hearing a case, a people’s court shall make the
following judgments according to the varying conditions:

    (1) If the evidence for undertaking a specific administrative act is
conclusive, the application of the law and regulations to the act is correct,
and the legal procedure is complied with, the specific administrative act
shall be sustained by judgment.

    (2) If a specific administrative act has been undertaken in one of the
following circumstances, the act shall be annulled or partially annulled by
judgment, or the defendant may be required by judgment to undertake a specific
administrative act anew:

    a. inadequacy of essential evidence;

    b. erroneous application of the law or regulations;

    c. violation of legal procedure;

    d. exceeding authority; or

    e. abuse of powers.

    (3) If a defendant fails to perform or delays the performance of his
statutory duty, a fixed time shall be set by judgment for his performance of <

CONSTITUTION ACT, 1982 – page 22

NOTES (1) The enacting clause was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act, 1893, 56-57 Vict., c. 14 (U.K.). It read as...