Guangdong Passes New Law on Migrant Detention

China News Digest, 25 March 2002

[CND, 03/25/02] The province of Guangdong has passed a legislation that prevents migrants to be detained for lack of residence or work permits, the South China Morning Post reported.

This law will end the decade-long practice of detaining migrants found without sufficient identification, proof of residence, or work permit. The new law also bans a 300 yuan charge on a detainee.

On the other hand, the law defined seven categories of people who can be detained, including the homeless, pen-handlers, mental patients, people who attempt suicide, abducted women and children, people without any identification, or those who submit themselves to the detention center. (Dong LIU)