Shanghai Public Security Bureau has repeatedly interpreted that Shanghai will not cancel the accounts of overseas residents for the time being.

　　Recently, the new version of the Regulations on the Administration of Permanent Residence in Shanghai, which will come into effect on May 1, has aroused widespread concern among netizens, among which the most hotly debated issue involves Article 46 on the cancellation of household registration for people who have settled abroad or joined foreign nationalities. In order to respond to and answer the concerns and doubts of citizens and netizens, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau issued two policy interpretations concerning Article 46 in the official Weibo on March 21 and March 25. In the latest interpretation on the 25th, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau said that at this stage, the Shanghai public security organs will not cancel their accounts for those who have settled abroad.

　　Hot discussion on new regulations

　　Can’t you have your green card and hukou?

　　On March 8 this year, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau issued a new version of the Regulations on the Administration of Permanent Accounts in Shanghai to the relevant departments of the city. It is understood that the new regulations will be implemented on May 1. Among them, Article 46 has aroused widespread concern among netizens recently because it involves the cancellation of household registration of people who have settled abroad or joined foreign nationalities.

　　The Beijing Youth Daily reporter consulted the new edition of the Regulations on the Administration of Permanent Accounts in Shanghai, and saw that Article 46 stipulated: "If I go abroad to settle down or join a foreign nationality, I shall cancel my account registration with the local police station. If the household registration has not been cancelled, the police station shall promptly inform the person, close relatives, head of household or collective household coordinator, and refuse to cancel the household registration or cancel the household registration within one month after notification. "

　　Many netizens who have both foreign "green cards" and Shanghai household registration have expressed doubts. Mr. Zhang, who holds an American "green card", works for a multinational company. He works in Shanghai for half a year, works in the United States for half a year, and buys real estate in the United States. "I don’t know if I count this ‘ Overseas settlement ’ Do you need to cancel your account? " Mr. Zhang is not worried when he sees the new regulations.

　　Interpretation of new regulations

　　Holding a "green card" does not mean going abroad to settle down.

　　In response to netizens’ doubts, on the afternoon of March 22nd, the official website of Shanghai Public Security Bureau published "Interpretation of Article 46 of the new Regulations on the Administration of Permanent Accounts in Shanghai".

　　The reporter of Beiqing Daily saw in the interpretation that in fact, Article 46 is not a "new regulation". As early as 2003, the Ministry of Public Security promulgated and implemented 30 measures to facilitate the people and benefit the people, clearly stipulating that people who have been abroad for more than one year may not cancel their accounts, but those who have settled abroad should cancel their accounts. In 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2015, the Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on the Administration of Permanent Accounts all stipulated that those who settled abroad should cancel their accounts. Article 46 only refines the operating procedures on the basis of the original provisions.

　　There are also many netizens who are concerned that after going abroad to cancel their accounts, can they be restored if they return to China? The Shanghai Public Security Bureau responded that those who have cancelled their accounts abroad can resume their accounts if they return to China to settle down. Among them, those with overseas Chinese status shall be examined and approved by the Shanghai Overseas Chinese Affairs Office; Those who do not have the status of overseas Chinese shall be examined and approved by the exit-entry administration department of Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

　　The timely interpretation of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau has been praised by the majority of netizens, but some netizens have questioned how to identify "going abroad to settle down". Does holding a "green card" mean "going abroad to settle down"

　　Zhou Hao, a lawyer at Beijing Weiheng Law Firm, said that this cannot be generalized. The formal name of "green card" is "permanent residence permit", which is used to prove that a foreigner has the legal right to live and work in other countries for a long time. Holding a green card only means holding a certificate of residence permit in other countries, and whether the holder of a "green card" has settled in a foreign country for a long time needs to be determined according to the different circumstances of each person.

　　Going abroad to settle down does not cancel the account at this stage.

　　Zhou Hao told the reporter of Beiqing Daily that relevant laws and regulations have defined "leaving the country to settle down" and "settling down". The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council has issued the Notice on Defining the Status of Overseas Chinese, Foreign Chinese and Returned Overseas Chinese and Their Family Members, stipulating that "settlement" means that China citizens have obtained the long-term or permanent right of residence in the country where they have lived for two consecutive years, with a cumulative residence of not less than 18 months within two years.

　　In response to the heated discussion on Article 46 of the new regulations, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau released its policy interpretation on Article 46 again yesterday morning. According to the interpretation, in view of the fact that the detailed rules for the implementation of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of People’s Republic of China (PRC) have not yet been formulated and the legal connotation of "going abroad to settle down" is not clear and specific, the Shanghai public security organs will not cancel the accounts of those who have settled abroad at this stage.

　　Text/reporter Li Zhuoya