Learning from HK to resolve land disputes

Guangdong studies arbitration methods to better handle thousands of complaints and compensation claims

Guangdong is learning from Hong Kong how to set up an arbitration organisation to resolve thousands of complaints about land seizures that are bogging down the land resources department, a senior official said.

'We have sent people to Hong Kong to learn from its experience to set up an arbitration organisation for resolving disputes over compensation for land,' said Lin Haokun , director-general of the Guangdong Land Resources Department. 'We have submitted a proposal to the provincial government for its approval.'

A department official said that it had to deal with more than 1,000 petitions for higher compensation for a total of 200,000 mu (13,333 hectares) acquired before 1999 when compensation for land requisition was revised upwards.

'We are negotiating on a case by case basis because land prices differ greatly from region to region. We have to look at where the land is, what it was used for, whether for agriculture or forestry and its present use when negotiating,' he said.

The department received another 2,300 petitions last year, including complaints about seized land, he said.

Mr Lin said the department had to publicise that it would comply with new rules that provided for a minimum compensation of 400,000 yuan per mu for industrial use in developed areas, and 80,000 yuan per mu in other areas.