NewLocalReclamationRegulations
TheRegulationsontheAdministrationoftheUseofSeaAreasinZhejiangProvincewillbeimplementedonMarch1.Yesterday,aworkingconferencetopromoteandimplementthelocalregulationswasheldinHangzhou.
Beforetheimplementationofthenewregulations,Zhejiangwantedtoobtaintherighttouseapieceofseaarea,mostofwhichreliedonapplyingtothegovernment.Aftertheapproval,theseaareacanbeusedafterpaymentoftheseaareausefee.EithertidalflatfarmingorencirclingtheseaareaFishincagesareeitherreclaimedtocreateanewpieceofland.ChengWeishan,deputydirectoroftheStandingCommitteeoftheProvincialPeople'sCongress,saidthatwhentherighttouseseaareasistransferredbymeansofapproval,themarketvalueofseaareasasascarcestate-ownedresourcehasnotbeenfullyreflected,andthelowutilizationrateofseaareashasalsocausedproblemssuchas"seaenclosing".
Thenewregulationsstipulatethatindustrial,commercial,tourism,entertainmentandotherbusinessusesoftheseaandtwoormoreintendedseausersinthesameseaareawiththesameuseoftheseaareashallbethroughbidding,auction,andlistingObtaintherighttouseseaareas.
Enclosureinthesea,ifthepriceoflandiscomparedwiththelandonland,thepriceisreallylow.ThegoldstandardfortheuseoftheseaareaforlandreclamationinZhejiangisbetween20,000and90,000yuanpermu(1muisabout667squaremeters).Whenthepilotbiddingandauctionsarelisted,theauctionpriceisgenerallynomorethan10%-20%higherthanthereserveprice.Comparedwiththefloorpriceofurbanresidentialland,whichismorethan10thousandpersquaremeter,thepriceofreclaimedlandcanbedescribedascabbage.However,afterobtainingtherighttouseseaareas,itwillcostalotofmoneytoturnseawaterintoland.
Benefits
1.Effectiveproductionofflatlandforurbandevelopment.Thelandcreatedbyreclamationcanincreasethelandforurbanconstructionandindustrialproduction,suchasbuildinghouses,roads,andgreening.Theconstructionoffactories,etc.,canalleviatethepressureonlandsupply.Ofcourse,thereclamationoflandfromtheseamustbeplannedreasonablyanddevelopedeffectively.
2.Beautifythecoastlineandimprovethecoastallandscape.
Disadvantages
Excessivereclamationwillnarrowtheharbor
1.Destroythemarineecologyandaffectthelifeofmarinelife.
2.Excessivereclamationwillnarrowtheharbour,makethewaterflowfaster,andaffectthenavigationofships.
Inthe1960sand1970s,Japan'seconomyenteredaperiodofrapiddevelopment,andalargenumberoffactoriesemerged,whichputitintoapredicamentinasmallcountry.Asaresult,Japanbeganlarge-scalelandreclamation.ThesenewlandshaveprovidedfavorableconstructionlandfortheadvancementofJapaneseindustry.From1945to1975,theJapanesegovernmentreclaimed118,000hectaresofland(equivalenttotheareaoftwoSingapores),carriedoutaunifiedindustriallayout,anddeployedresource-consumingenterprisessuchasoilrefining,petrochemical,andshipbuildinginthePacificOceansouthofTokyoBay.Inthebelt-shapedindustrialzone,therawmaterialdocksandproductdocksbecomepartofthefactory,whichreducesthetransitandtransportationcosts,therebypromotingtherapiddevelopmentofthesesectorsandindustrialsectorssuchasshipbuilding,machinery,andconstruction.
Bringhugesequelae
Whileobtaininghugebenefits,thelarge-scalereclamationoflandtodeveloptheindustrialeconomyhasalsobroughthugesequelaetoJapan.From1945to1978,thecoastalbeachesacrossJapandecreasedbyabout39,000hectares,andtheystilldisappearedatarateofabout2,000hectareseveryyear."Themostobviousproblemismarinepollution.Manywatersclosetothelandhavenobiologicalactivities.Theself-purificationabilityofseawaterisweakenedandredtidesareflooding."Anexpertsaid,"Nowwemustusevariousmethodstochangeandrepairtheenvironment.Fundsandmanpower.”Nevertheless,itisverydifficulttorestoretheprevioussituation.Onsomecoastlines,largeareasofforestshavedisappeared,smallfishesandshrimpshavedisappeared,andfisherieshavesufferedheavylossesasaresult.
Manycountrieshavegainedmorethanthis.
InAsia,coastalcountriesandregionswithpoorlandresourcesattachgreatimportancetousingtidalflatsorbaystoreclaimland.Now,theprohibitionofdisorderlyreclamationhasbeenputbeforeallcountries."Comprehensiveseaareamanagement"hasbecomeatopicthatscholarsallovertheworldattachimportanceto.Disorderlydevelopmentwillbringimmeasurableconsequencestothemarineenvironment,andmanycountrieshaveoutweighedthegains.
Principlesofreclamation
Sinceenvironmentalistsbelievethatreclamationprojectswilldamagetheenvironment,theyallopposereclamationprojects.InHongKong,someenvironmentalistsfiledalawsuitoverareclamationprojectin2003,hopingtooverturntheplan.OnJanuary9,2004,theHongKongCourtofFinalAppealruledinfavorofenvironmentalistsandproposedthreeprinciplesforreclamation:
1.Urgentandoverridingcurrentneeds(includingtheeconomicandenvironmentalAndsocialneeds)
2.Thereareotherfeasiblemethods
3.Thedamagetotheseaportisminimized
Thisjudgmenthasfar-reachingimpactandmayaffectothersTheprincipleoffuturereclamationofthearea.
Legalnature
Oceanissues
Theoceanisacommunesomnium(rescommunesomnium)inRomanlaw,andtheoceanwithinanationalborderisapublicproperty(respublica).Theincreaseinlandalongthecoastlinecanbedividedintosiltationlandandartificiallandreclamation.Artificiallandreclamationcanbedividedintoartificialauxiliarysiltationandartificialreclamation.Fromalegalpointofview,thelattertwoincludehumanbehavior,whichcanberegardedasartificialattachment;whilethefirsttypeofsiltationlandiscausedbynaturalforces,soitisanaturalattachmentinlaw.InRomanlaw,siltlandisaslowandlatentexpansion,whichoccurswhenthesoilbroughtbytherivergraduallymergeswiththelandalongthecoastastheriverretreats.
Therightofreclamation
Thelegalnatureoftherightofreclamation
Fromtheperspectiveofcivillawpropertyrights,relevantunitsarepayingAftertheuseofseaareas,the"righttoreclamation"obtainedwiththeapprovalofthenationaloceanadministrationdepartmentshouldberegardedasakindofrealright,whichitselfhaspropertyvalue.
Because,reclamationisnotto"use"thesea,butto"turntheseaintoland."Therefore,intheSeaAreaUseManagementLaw,onlyprogrammaticprovisionsshouldbemadeforlandreclamationandlandreclamationshouldbeconsideredseparatelyinthefuture.
Obtainingtherightofreclamation
Therightofreclamationmaybeobtainedforthefollowingreasons:
1.Obtainedduetoapproval.Theapplicantcanobtaintherightofreclamationafterobtainingtheapprovaloftherelevantstatedepartments.
2.Obtainedbytransfer.Forexample,CompanyAobtainedtherighttoreclamationofacertainseaareaafterobtainingtheapprovaloftheStateOceanicDepartment.However,CompanyAwasunabletoreclaimtheseaandtransferredtherightofreclamationtoCompanyB,andCompanyBobtainedtherightofreclamation.
3.Obtainedduetotherealizationofmortgagerights.AftercompanyAobtainstherightofreclamation,itwillsetamortgageontherightofreclamationandrequestaloanfromBankB.Whenthepaymentcannotberepaiddue,BankBauctionstherightofreclamation,andBankCobtainstherightofreclamation,thusobtainingtherightofreclamation.
Changesintherightofreclamation
Therightofreclamationisanon-exclusivepropertyrightwithpropertycontent.Therefore,therightofreclamationshouldbemortgaged,Canbetransferred.However,theStateOceanicAdministrationshouldsupervisetheunitsthathavebeenassignedtherightofreclamation.ThemortgageandtransferoflandreclamationrightsshallberegisteredwiththeStateOceanicAdministrationtodemonstrateitscredibilityandtheeffectivenessofitspropertyrights.Afterthetransferoftherightofreclamation,thenationaloceanadministrationdepartmentshouldsupervisethelegalpersonoftheunitthathastherightofreclamation,sothattheunitcancarryoutreclamationinaccordancewiththecontent,methodandscopeofthelicense,andpreventthephenomenonofexcessivereclamation.
Theeliminationoftherightofreclamation
1.Therightofreclamationiseliminatedduetothecompletionofreclamation.Initially,therightcontentoftherightofreclamationwastherighttoreclamationinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthenationaloceanmanagementdepartment,butoncethereclamationiscompleted,itwillbetransformedintotherighttousethelandgeneratedfromthereclaimedsea.Therefore,therightofreclamationitselfdisappearedandtransformedintolanduserights.Theowneroftheseaareauserightshall,withinthreemonthsfromthedateofcompletionofthereclamationproject,submitanapplicationforlandregistrationtothelandadministrativedepartmentofthepeople’sgovernmentatorabovethecountylevelonthestrengthoftheseaareauserightcertificate,andthepeople’sgovernmentatorabovethecountylevelshallregisterandchangeIssuestate-ownedlanduserightcertificatestoconfirmlanduserights.
2.Therightofreclamationwaseliminatedduetotheabandonmentoftherightofreclamation.Canreclamationrightsbeabandoned?TheabandonmentoftherighttoreclamationshouldbecarriedoutunderthesupervisionoftheStateOceanicAdministration.Aftertherightofreclamationisabandoned,therightofreclamationshallbecancelledintheregister.
3.Therightofreclamationwasrevokedbytheoceanadministrationdepartmentduetoillegalreclamationandwaseliminated.
4.Therightofreclamationwasextinguishedduetoresumption.Underspecialcircumstances,thestatemaywithdrawtherighttoreclamation.Ifthelandisnotsuitableforreclamationduetochangesinthenaturalenvironment,orthecountry’simportantmilitaryandstrategicneedsconsideritnecessary,orthecountry’smilitarystrategyconsidersitunsuitableforreclamation,thestatemarinedepartmentmaywithdrawtherighttoreclamation.Thestateoceanmanagementdepartmentshallreturntheseaareausefee(oceanresourcecompensationfee)whenitrecoverstherighttoreclamation.
Registrationoftherightofreclamation
Asapropertyright,therightofreclamationshalltakeeffectfromthetimeofregistration.Theacquisition,transfer,andmortgageoflandreclamationrightsshouldberegistered.Registrationisaneffectiverequirementfortherightofreclamation.Theabandonmentoftherightofreclamationshalltakeeffectfromthetimeofthecancellationofregistration.Therightofreclamationcannotbeacquiredfirstafterbeingabandoned.Therightofreclamationhasdisappearedsinceitwasabandoned.Theregistrationoftherightofreclamationisdifferentfromtheregistrationoflandandrealestate,andtheregistrationoftherightofreclamationbelongstotheregistrationofotherpropertyrights.Therefore,theregistrationauthorityforlandreclamationrightsshouldbeintheStateOceanicDepartment,notintheStateLandResourcesManagementDepartment.
Timelimitfortherightofreclamation
Becauseoftheunpredictablechangesintheocean,theexerciseoftherightofreclamationshouldbecarriedoutassoonaspossible.Thelawalsostipulatesathree-yearexclusionperiod.Thatis,iftherightofreclamationisnotexercisedwithinthreeyearsfromthedateofregistrationoftherightofreclamation,therightofreclamationshallbesubjecttotheexclusionperiod,andtheholderoftherightofreclamationwilleventuallylosetherightofreclamation.Oncetherightofreclamationbeginstobeexercised,thereclamationshallbecompletedwithinareasonabletime.Iftheownerofthereclamationrightisunabletoreclaimtheseawithinthespecifiedtimeandwithinthespecifiedrangeduetolackoffundsandotherreasons,therighttoreclamationshallbelost.Thepartiesmaytransfertherightofreclamation.Ifthegrantisnotgrantedwithoutreason,theStateOceanicAdministrationshallwithdrawtherightofreclamation.Dependingonthesituation,partoftheseaareausagefeewillberefunded.
Proceduresforobtainingseareclamationrights
Generalprojectsshouldbeundertakenbythenationalmaritimeadministrativedepartment,andunderspecialcircumstancesoriftheseaareaistoolarge,theStateCouncilApproval.Article18oftheLawontheAdministrationoftheUseofSeaAreasstipulatesthat“thefollowingprojectsshalluseseafortheapprovaloftheStateCouncil:(1)seaforprojectsofmorethan50hectaresofreclamation;(2)seaforprojectsofmorethan100hectaresofsea;”Aftertheapproval,theapplicantobtainstherightofreclamation.Landreclamationshouldbecarriedoutbythestateinaunifiedway,soastoavoidreclaiminglandindiscriminatelybydoingone'sownaffairs.
PropertyRightAttribute
RegardlessoflegalprinciplesorChina’scurrentlegislation,thelandcreatedbyreclamationshouldbeownedbythestate.Article32ofChina'sSeaAreaUseManagementLawclearlystipulatesthatthelandformedafterthecompletionofthereclamationprojectbelongstothestate.However,aunitwiththerighttoreclamationshallholdthelanduserightofthelandcreatedbyreclamationandshallbedeemedtobetransferable.Canbemortgaged.
Illegalreclamation
1.Thesubjectofillegalreclamationshallbearadministrative,civilandcriminalliabilities.
2.Ifthelandcausedbyillegalreclamationcanberestoredagain,itshouldberestored;ifitcannotberestored,thenewlandbelongstothestate,andtheillegalreclamationdepartmentcannotobtaintherighttousetheland,andthemarinedepartmentshouldThenewlyaddedlandwillbetransferredtothelandadministrationdepartmentandregisteredbythelandadministrationdepartment.
3.Ifthelandcreatedbyillegalreclamationisnotapproved,thenthelandcreatedbyreclamationbelongstothestatewithoutadoubt.Butwhohastherighttouseit?Itshouldbeconsideredthatthereclamationunitcannotobtainlanduserightsandshouldbepunished.
Thelandreclamationunitdoesnothavetherighttousethelandgeneratedbyover-scalereclamationandshouldbearlegalresponsibilityforit.
4.Wheretoxicandhazardousmaterialsareusedtofillthesea,orotherlossescausedbythereclamation,theyshallbearlegalresponsibilityandshallcompensatethedamagedunitsandindividuals.
ReclamationProject
Intheinitialstageofreclamation,thesand,mudandgravelgeneratedduringdevelopmentweredumpeddirectlyintothesea.Inthisway,thelandcreatedisclosesttothenaturalcoast.However,ifthecurrentofthereclamationlandisrelativelyrapid,theimpactofthecurrentonthecoastwillgraduallyerodethereclamationarea.Ifthelandfillareaisrelativelylarge,thebetterwayofreclamationistofirstbuildadikeinthereclamationareawithrelativelystablefillingmaterial,andthendumpthefillingmaterialintothelandfillarea.Thislandfillmethodisthemostcommonlyusedandisalsothemostcommonlandfillmethod.ThecurrentWestKowloonreclamationareainHongKongusesthismethodtoconnectthedikesoftheoriginalYauMaTeiTyphoonShelter,dumpsandandgravelintothedikes,waitforthefillertosettle,andthenstartconstructioninthenewreclamationarea.TheShaTinNewTownalsoadoptedthismethodforreclamationprojects.
Ifthefillingisonlysandandmud,itcanbedumpeddirectlyintothesea.However,ifthefillingmaterialissludgeorgarbage,theseabedmustbeleveledbeforereclamation.Thewaytoleveltheseabedistofirstdigupthesludgeontheseabed,andlayaplasticfilmontheseabedandembankmenttopreventsewageseepage,andthenpourthefillerintothelandfillarea.Otherwise,thesludgewillslideunderthepressureofthesurfacebuilding,causingunevensettlementontheground.