Hukou
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A hùkǒu (Chinese: 户口) or hùjí (Chinese: 戶籍) refers to residency permits (household registration) issued in mainland China (by the People's Republic of China) and Taiwan (by the Republic of China). A household registration record officially identifies a person as a resident of an area and includes identifying information such the name of the person, date of birth, the names of parents, and name of spouse, if married. A hukou can also refer to a family register in many contexts since the household registration record (戶籍謄本, hùjíténgběn) is issued per family, and usually includes the births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and moves, of all members in the family. A similar household registration system exists within the public administration structures of Japan (koseki), Vietnam (ho khau) and North Korea (Hojok). In South Korea the Hojok system was repealed in 2005
Contents |
[edit] Residency permits in mainland China
Although a valid residency permit technically requires an individual to live in the area designated on his/her permit, in practice the system has largely broken down, and there are an estimated 150 to 200 million Chinese who are living outside their officially-registered areas. Persons without a residency permit have much less access to education and government services, and in several respects occupy a social and economic status similar to illegal immigrants in some other countries, such as the United States.
Under the command economy in the PRC before the 1980s, a residency permit was required for any employment and to receive food and other essential consumer products. After Chinese market reforms, it became possible for some to unofficially migrate and get a job without a valid permit. Economic reforms also created pressures to encourage migration from the interior to the coast as well as provided incentives for officials not to enforce migration regulations. Until 2003, administration regulations known as custody and repatriation authorized police to detain and return persons to their permanent residency location, but this system was abolished after the public outcry due to the death of Sun Zhigang.
Reforming the residency system has been a very controversial topic within the PRC. Although the current system is widely regarded within the PRC as unfair and inhumane, the main problem with liberalization is that there are fears that it would result in a massive influx to the cities which would stress already strained government services beyond the breaking point, and result in further economic loss to rural areas.
Hukou is not employed in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, though identification cards are mandatory for residents there.
[edit] Household registration in Taiwan
When Taiwan was under Japanese rule from 1895 to 1945, the Japanese government maintained the same system of household registration (koseki) as they did in other parts of the Empire of Japan. This system of household registration, with minor changes, has been continued. Records concerning native Taiwanese are fairly complete. Records of Mainlanders date back to the date they first applied for registration with the local household registration office, and are based on information provided by the applicant.
While all ROC nationals, including overseas Chinese with no connection to Taiwan, can apply for a ROC passport, proper household registration is required for obtaining a ROC National ID card, which is often used as proof of citizenship, such as in national elections, and an ID number is needed to open bank accounts. Unlike in mainland China, residency can be easily changed with the local authorities and household registration does not serve as a tool to limit a resident's movements within Taiwan.
