REGULATIONS ON SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE ——附加英文版
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
REGULATIONS ON SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE
(Approved for implementation at the 15th Meeting of the Standing
Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress on August 26, 1980)
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Registration and Operation
Chapter III Preferential Treatment
Chapter IV Labour Management
Chapter V Administrative Organization
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
In order to develop economic cooperation and technical exchanges with
foreign countries and to promote the socialist modernization programme,
certain areas shall be delineated respectively in the three cities of
Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou in Guangdong Province for the establishment
of special economic zones (hereinafter referred to as "special zones").
The special zones shall encourage foreign citizens, overseas Chinese,
compatriots from Hongkong and Macao and their companies and enterprises
(hereinafter referred to as "investors") to open factories and set up
enterprises and other establishments with their own investment or in joint
ventures with our side, and shall protect their assets, the profits due
them and their other lawful rights and interests in accordance with the
law.
Article 2
Enterprises and individuals in the special zones must abide by the laws,
decrees and pertinent provisions of the People's Republic of China. Where
there are specific provisions in these Regulations, they shall be observed
accordingly.
Article 3
A Guangdong Provincial Committee for the Administration of Special
Economic Zones shall be set up to exercise unified administration of the
special zones on behalf of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government.
Article 4
The special zones shall provide investors with a wide scope of operation,
create favourable operating conditions and guarantee them stable business
sites. Investors may establish, with their own investment or in joint
ventures with our side, all projects that have positive significance for
international economic cooperation and technical exchanges, including
industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, aquaculture, tourism, housing and
construction, and research and manufacture involving high technology, as
well as other businesses of common interest to investors and to our side.
Article 5
Land-levelling projects and various public works in the special zones such
as water supply, drainage, power supply, roads, wharves, communications
and warehouses shall be undertaken by the Guangdong Provincial Committee
for the Administration of Special Economic Zones. When necessary, foreign
investment may be used in building these projects.
Article 6
Each of the special zones shall invite Chinese and foreign specialists and
relevant personages who are enthusiastic about China's modernization
programme to form an advisory committee that will serve as a consultative
body for that special zone.
Chapter II Registration and Operation
Article 7
Investors wishing to open factories or set up various economic
undertakings in the special zones with their own investment shall apply to
the Guangdong Provincial Committee for the Administration of Special
Economic Zones, which shall issue them registration certificates and land
use certificates after examination and approval.
Article 8
Investors may open accounts and conduct their foreign exchange
transactions with the Bank of China established in the special zones or
with other banks established there with the approval of the Chinese side.
Investors may take out various kinds of insurance policies at the People's
Insurance Company of China in the special zones or at other insurance
companies established there with the approval of the Chinese side.
Article 9
Products of the enterprises in the special zones shall be sold on the
international market. If their products are to be sold in the interior of
China, they must have the approval of the Guangdong Provincial Committee
for the Administration of Special Economic Zones and go through the
procedures for paying customs duties.
Article 10
Investors may operate their enterprises independently in the special zones
and employ foreign personnel for technical and managerial work.
Article 11
If an enterprise established by an investor in the special zones wishes to
terminate operations before its scheduled expiration, it shall report the
reasons to the Guangdong Provincial Committee for the Administration of
Special Economic Zones, go through termination procedures and settle
claims and debts. After termination of operations, its assets may be
assigned and its funds may be remitted out of China.
Chapter III Preferential Treatment
Article 12
Land in the special zones is owned by the People's Republic of China. The
land to be used by investors shall be provided according to actual needs,
and preferential treatment shall be given with respect to the duration of
its use, the amount of the use fee and the method of payment according to
the different types of business and uses. Provisions for specific
measures shall be made separately.
Article 13
The machinery and equipment, spare parts, raw and semi-processed
materials, means of transportation and other capital goods necessary for
production that are imported by enterprises in the special zones shall be
exempted from import duties. The necessary consumer goods may either be
subjected to import duties or allowed a reduction or exemption therefrom,
depending on the specific situation of each case. When the above-mentioned
goods are imported or products of the special zones are exported, a
customs declaration shall be filed.
Article 14
The enterprise income tax rate in the special zones is 15 percent. Special
preferential treatment shall be given to enterprises established within
two years of the promulgation of these Regulations, to enterprises with an
investment US$ 5 million or more, and to enterprises involving higher
technology or having a longer period of capital turnover.
Article 15
The lawful profit that an investor receives after payment of the
enterprise income tax, and the wages and salaries and other legitimate
earnings that foreign, overseas Chinese and Hongkong and Macao workers and
staff members of an enterprise in the special zones receive after payment
of the individual income tax, may be remitted abroad through the Bank of
China or other banks in the special zones, in accordance with the
provisions of the foreign exchange control measures of the special zones.
Article 16
An investor that reinvests its share of the profit in the special zones
for a period of five years or longer may apply for a reduction of or an
exemption from income tax on the reinvested portion.
Article 17
Enterprises in the special zones shall be encouraged to use machinery and
equipment, raw and semi-processed materials and other materials produced
in China, and preferential prices shall be offered on the basis of China's
current export prices for the same kinds of commodities, using foreign
exchange to settle accounts. These products and materials may be shipped
directly to the special zones with the sales vouchers of the selling
units.
Article 18
Entry and exit procedures shall be simplified and conveniences given to
the foreign personnel, overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hongkong and
Macao entering and leaving the special zones.
Chapter IV Labour Management
Article 19
A labour service company shall be set up in each of the special zones.
Chinese staff members and workers to be employed by enterprises in the
special zones, whether they are recommended by the local labour service
companies or recruited by the investors themselves with the consent of the
Guangdong Provincial Committee for the Administration of Special Economic
Zones, shall all be tested by the enterprises before employment and labour
contracts shall be signed with the staff members and workers.
Article 20
The staff members and workers employed by enterprises in the special zones
shall be managed by the enterprises according to their business
requirements and, when necessary, may be dismissed, after going through
the procedures provided in the labour contracts. Staff members and
workers of the enterprises in the special zones may submit their
resignations to the enterprises in accordance with the provisions of the
labour contracts.
Article 21
The wage levels, types of wages, award measures and the labour insurance
and various state subsidies for the Chinese staff members and workers of
the enterprises in the special zones shall be included in the contracts
signed by the enterprises with the staff members and workers as stipulated
by the Guangdong Provincial Committee for the Administration of Special
Economic Zones.
Article 22
Enterprises in the special zones shall adopt the necessary measures for
labour protection to ensure that staff members and workers work in safe
and hygienic conditions.
Chapter V Administrative Organization
Article 23
The Guangdong Provincial Committee for the Administration of Special
Economic Zones shall exercise the following functions and powers:
(1) to draw up development plans for the special zones and organize their
implementation;
(2) to examine and approve the investment projects of investors in the
special zones;
(3) to handle registration of industrial and commercial enterprises and
land allotment in the special zones;
(4) to coordinate working relations among the banking, insurance,
taxation, Customs, frontier inspection, postal and telecommunications and
other organizations in the special zones;
(5) to provide the staff members and workers needed by enterprises in the
special zones and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the staff
members and workers;
(6) to establish educational, cultural, health and various public welfare
institutions in the special zones; and
(7) to maintain law and order in the special zones and protect, in
accordance with the law, the persons and property in the special zones
against encroachment.
Article 24
The Shenzhen Special Zone shall be under the direct management and
administration of the Guangdong Provincial Committee for the
Administration of Special Economic Zones. Necessary offices shall be set
up in the Zhuhai and Shantou Special Zones.
Article 25
A Guangdong Provincial Special Economic Zones Development Company shall be
set up to suit the expanding economic activities in the special zones. Its
scope of business shall include: undertaking to raise funds and handle
trust investment business; operating, or jointing with investors in
operating, relevant enterprises in the special zones; acting as agent for
investors in the special zones in transactions relating to sales and
purchases in trade with the interior; and providing services for business
talks.
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
Article 26
These Regulations shall go into effect after they have been adopted by the
People's Congress of Guangdong Province and submitted to and approved by
the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's
Republic of China.
Important Notice:
This English document is coming from "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
发明专利和实用新型专利在同请情况下的接力授权程序
专利法第9条重复授权再思考
张浠娟(福建力华律师事务所)
【问题】
在实务中,客户对其研发成果常会选择在同日既申请实用新型专利又申请发明专利(以下简称同请),但是,由于期限监视或出于其他考虑,客户延误缴纳新型专利的年费,此后收到发明专利授权通知书,并被告知因新型专利权已终止发明专利不能被授权。由此客户产生困惑:新型和发明专利权是两项独立存在的权利,为什么发明专利会因新型专利权终止而无法否授权?
《专利法》(2008修订)第九条规定,同样的发明创造只能授予一项专利权。但是,同一申请人同日对同样的发明创造既申请实用新型专利又申请发明专利,先获得的实用新型专利权尚未终止,且申请人声明放弃该实用新型专利权的,可以授予发明专利权。
对此项规定可以作两种理解:其一,按照“有效专利权唯一”标准,此项规定是指“先获得的实用新型专利权尚未终止”的,才需要该申请人进行选择。现在,既然在先获得的实用新型专利权已经终止,就不必选择了,直接授予发明专利权,因为没有两项有效的专利权同时存在。其二,按照专利唯一性标准,而且法律规定是“先获得的实用新型专利权尚未终止”,该申请人才有权选择声明放弃该实用新型专利权。现在,在先的实用新型专利权已经因期限届满而终止了,前面的专利权就成为不可改变的事实,因此,该申请就没有权利选择放弃在先的实用新型专利权,所以,该发明专利申请不能被授予专利权。[1]
但是,对于“终止”的理解无论哪种都只从申请人的角度来阐述,却忽略了另外一点,专利权虽然是私权,一旦放弃即进入公权领域。也就是说,申请人在选择放弃任一项专利权时,其本质是该专利权已由专利保护状态进入自由公知领域。
因此,对于《专利法》第九条中的“尚未终止”应理解为:在同请的情况下,在发明专利授权时,先获得的实用新型专利权尚未终止的,可通过声明放弃新型专利权,从而获得发明专利权。反之,在发明专利授权前,无论何种原因而导致新型专利权终止的,就意味着放弃新型专利权,那么该新型专利权中所描述的技术方案已不再受专利法律保护,可以为公众自由使用,当然也不能被授予发明专利权。这就是所谓的“接力式”授权程序,或者“无缝连接”授权程序。
【建议】
对同请的新型专利权的年费监视尤为重要,同请的新型专利的年费至少需缴纳3-5的年费。如果客户延误缴纳新型专利权的年费,需及时通过恢复程序缴纳年费,以期通过“接力式”授权程序最终获得发明专利权。
注释:
[1]曹新明 禁止重复授权原则解读 法治研究 2009年第8期
【2012-8-29】