Hukou reform significant

The hukou (permanent residency permit) system, a system that restricts the free flow of the population within their own country, has caused countless heartbreaks since its adoption more than 50 years ago. It has blocked family reunions and impeded education opportunities for children and job opportunities for their parents. People without a hukou are often treated like second-class citizens in the city they have worked and paid taxes for years.

That's why when the Shanghai government on Monday announced temporary rules to reform its hukou system, it attracted nationwide attention, especially that of those who flocked to the city during the past 15 years of economic boom.

The Shanghai rules are designed mostly to attract talented professionals. Applicants must meet a minimum of five requirements - holding a local residency permit for seven years, participating in the city's social security program for seven years, paying taxes, having a mid-level professional title, and violating neither the family planning nor other laws.