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 were "just some suggestions put forward by
conference attendants 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, of whom most 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."
