Subsidy for e-bike replacement Owners of electric bicycles (e-bikes) registered in Shenzhen are eligible for a one-time government subsidy of 500 yuan (US$71) when they purchase a new e-bike to replace the old one under the city’s latest trade-in initiative, which was announced by the commerce bureau Sunday. This trade-in incentive also applies to expats residing in the city, as confirmed by a representative from the city’s e-bike industry association, surnamed Luo, during a phone interview with Shenzhen Daily yesterday. Effective until Dec. 31, the policy provides a 500-yuan subsidy to consumers who trade in their locally registered e-bikes, including the batteries, and purchase new e-bikes that meet national standards and are priced at a minimum of 1,500 yuan. Each person can only submit one subsidy application. Interested applicants can submit their subsidy applications through the WeChat mini-program “深圳电动自行车换新” ( “Shenzhen Electric Bicycle Replacement” ) before Jan. 10. To qualify for the subsidy, applicants must sell their licensed e-bikes to authorized recycling and dismantling enterprises, provide proof of e-bike scrapping before the Dec. 31 deadline, and purchase new e-bikes that adhere to national standards. Additionally, the e-bikes being replaced must have been registered under the applicant’s name on or before Sept. 5, 2024. For further details regarding this policy, please call 0755-27125088. SZ relaxes home purchase policies Four city government agencies, including Shenzhen Municipal Housing and Construction Bureau and the Shenzhen Branch of the People’s Bank of China, on Sept. 29 jointly issued a notice that aimed at further optimizing the policies and measures regarding the local real estate market. Effectively Oct. 1, the new policies and measures allow residents with Shenzhen hukou, or permanent residency, to buy up to two apartments in the city, while adult singles, including divorced individuals, can purchase one apartment. Local residents are allowed to purchase an additional apartment in Yantian, Bao’an (excluding the subdistricts of Xin’an and Xixiang), Longgang, Longhua, Pingshan and Guangming, as well as Dapeng New Area. Families without Shenzhen hukou are restricted to purchasing only one apartment in the city, and those who want to buy an apartment in Futian, Luohu and Nanshan districts, as well as Xin’an and Xixiang subdistricts of Bao’an will have to produce proof of having paid personal income tax or social insurance in the city for a year prior to the purchase date. Previously, a three-year payment requirement was in place for these areas. The new policies specifiy no such requirement for apartments that are in other districts. Non-hukou households with two or more minor children can purchase an additional housing unit beyond the usual restrictions. The city authorities also announced an exemption from value-added tax for homeowners selling an apartment they have owned for two years or more, down from the previous five years. The change is expected to reduced transaction costs and boost market vitality. Additionally, the minimum down payment for a second home is lowered to 20%, while it remains at 15% for the first home. Under the new policies, real estate enterprises are now empowered to independently set sales prices according to market conditions, which is expected to help enhance market competitiveness and vitality. China proposes new regulation on labeling AI-generated content The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is soliciting public feedback on a draft regulation that aims to standardize the labeling of AI-generated synthetic content to protect national security and public interests. Titled "Measures for identifying AI-generated synthetic content," the draft regulation is open for public feedback until Oct. 14. AI-generated synthetic content, as defined by the proposed rules, is any text, image, audio or video created using artificial intelligence technologies. Under the draft regulation, internet information service providers must adhere to mandatory national standards when labeling such content. Providers offering functions like downloading, copying or exporting AI-generated materials must ensure that explicit labels are embedded in the files. Platforms that distribute content are also required to regulate the spread of AI-generated materials by offering identification functions and reminding users to disclose whether their posts contain AI-generated content.
