Applicants for subsidized homes vetted

SHENZHEN - Despite stern warnings against irregular practices, some applicants for the government's latest batch of economical houses have had their credentials scrutinized during a public inquiry.

According to the city's housing and construction bureau, some 7,857 households, or 96.4 percent of all applicants, received preliminary official approval in late March, which brought them a step closer to being the occupants of government-subsidized economical homes.

All the information on the applicants was publicized online to receive public scrutiny for 15 days, starting on March 27. One of the criteria for approval is that household assets be no more than 320,000 yuan ($46,886).