Shenzhen hukou possession will not be a requirement for applying for a government-subsidized apartment in the near future, according to the latest Shenzhen's government three-year housing plan released Thursday.

The removal is likely to benefit thousands of low-income Shenzhen families without Shenzhen hukou, or permanent residence permit, who are currently not eligible to apply for a low-rent apartment.

According to the plan, the municipal government will spend 16.95 billion yuan (US$2.37 billion) to build 97,300 government-subsidized apartments between 2008 and 2010. Of these, 17,100 will be low-cost apartments and the rest low-rent apartments, according to the report.

Some 21,200 apartments will be set aside for families without Shenzhen hukou.

A survey conducted by the government housing planning center in 2007 showed that the number of families with housing difficulties was 57,800. Of them, 6,006 families have benefited from government-subsidized apartments provided to them.

To meet the housing needs of the rest, 45,800 apartments will be built in 2008, followed by 33,800 apartments in 2009 and 17,600 apartments in 2010 respectively.

According to the report, the government plans to provide 2,722 low-income households with rent subsidies each year from 2008 to 2010.

(Shenzhen Daily February 22, 2008)