Representative Christopher H. Smith, Chair
Senator Jeff Merkley, Cochair
Migrants Elected to Shenzhen People's Congress, Suggests Heightened Attention to Migrant Rights
May 26, 2005
Eight Shenzhen residents who hold temporary residence permits have been elected to the municipal local people's congress (LPC), according to a May 2 Beijing News article. LPCs are legislative bodies with membership chosen through elections commonly subject to Party interference. Although LPC power is limited, the addition of migrant representatives to these bodies does represent an improvement in the field of migrant rights.
Eight Shenzhen residents who hold temporary residence permits have been elected to the municipal local people's congress (LPC), according to a May 2 Beijing News article. LPCs are legislative bodies with membership chosen through elections commonly subject to Party interference. Although LPC power is limited, the addition of migrant representatives to these bodies does represent an improvement in the field of migrant rights.
In China, an individual's hukou (residence permit) identification is linked to voting rights and the ability to stand for election. This linkage has limited the representation of migrants in China's urban legislative bodies, even when the migrants are established and hold temporary residence permits. Shenzhen appears to be one of a few localities experimenting with progressive changes aimed at addressing this problem.