This Day, That Year

Item from March 3, 1994, in China Daily: Ma Guocai, a farmer from Xiji county, the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, is issued a Shanghai residence certificate at a local police station in Pudong New Area. Shanghai began issuing the new certificates to farmers on Tuesday in an effort to supervise the influx of labor into the city. ...

Several cities and provinces have adopted policies that relax control over where people can live and work. By giving cards to non-residents, these areas hope to attract more investors and workers.

Authorities have been accelerating efforts toward the expansion of a system of residence permits which allow migrants to enjoy urban services.