Han Ximin
PROFESSIONALS at various levels will be eligible for housing subsidies from the Shenzhen government, according to a policy released at the city s talent work meeting yesterday.
The policy will give priority to professionals working in pillar industries, newly emerging industries of strategic importance, and science, education, public health and sports, the meeting was told.
The policy is intended to solve the problem of high housing prices deterring professionals from settling in Shenzhen.
Professionals include academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, leading researchers at key labs at universities, firms and research institutions, professionals with senior professional titles and holders of doctorates to bachelor s degrees.
The academics can apply for a 200-square meter rent-free apartment for 10 years awith the option of renewing the lease. Those who contribute to the city s economic and social development can obtain the ownership deeds of the apartments.
Leading researchers at key laboratories in institutions and enterprises would be given an apartment rent-free for three years and would be eligible for a 30-percent housing subsidy if the want to buy an apartment. The other 70 percent would be allocated evenly in the following five years. They would be eligible for monthly subsidies of 4,800 yuan (US$700) to 2,560 yuan per month.
Senior professionals and holders of doctorates to bachelor s degrees would be eligible for subsidies between 200 and 2,000 yuan. They could also apply for public rental houses between 40 and 60 square meters.
Also at the meeting, 10 elite professionals in science, culture, education, public health and engineering who were selected as Pengcheng Excellent Talent each received 500,000 yuan from the city government.
The award winners include Liu Zhongjian, the leading scientist at the Shenzhen Arethusa Protection and Research Center, Xing Feng, vice president of Shenzhen University, He Wiping, chairman of Shenzhen Ocean Power Corporation and Meng Jianmin , president of the Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research.
