Beijing officials on Friday dismissed as "groundless" news
reports that the city is contemplating legislation to expel about
one million rural migrant workers during the 2008 Olympic Games.
A number of local newspapers reported earlier Friday that
officials with the Beijing 2008 Environmental Construction
Headquarters were mulling legislation to "repatriate" workers
during the 16 days of the games.
"Migrant workers in the construction industry will be persuaded
to return to their hometowns and people who want to come to Beijing
at that time should submit a testimonial issued by at least
county-level authorities," the Beijing News said.
The newspaper also said that the proposed legislation aims to
ease pressure on the city, which will have to manage a huge
floating population during the Games.
The newspaper, devoting a full page to the story, said it learnt
of the proposal at a conference called by the headquarters on
Thursday to discuss key issues that ought to be addressed through
legislation.
Zhou Jidong, director of the Beijing Municipal Legislative
Affairs Office and also head of the headquarters' legislative
affairs task force, categorically rejected the report.
"There are no plans for making any laws or decisions to force
migrant workers out of Beijing during the Olympic Games," he
said.
What the newspapers reported was "just some suggestions put
forward by conference participants and they are by no means what
the Beijing municipal government is trying to implement," Zhou
added.
Any legal proposal for the 2008 Games cannot clash with the
existing legal spirit and must go through the full legislative
process before being enacted, said Zhou.
In its reports, the Beijing Evening News quoted Zhou as
saying that the legislation under discussion not only aims to
provide a sound legal environment for the 2008 Games in host city
Beijing, but also to ensure smooth economic and social operation in
the capital city.
Beijing is estimated to have a rural migrant population of about
four million and most of them are employed in the construction,
manufacturing and service industries.
"The migrant workers have had a great role in the development of
the capital and they have equal rights to enjoy the achievement of
the society, including watching the Olympic Games," said Shen
Tiyan, an associated professor with the School of Government at
Peking University.
"The game is a grand event open to the whole world."
(China Daily September 16, 2006)