Ministry of Land and Resources, Tentative Measures for the Administration of Foreign Organizations or Individuals that Conduct Surveying and Mapping in China

Promulgated: January 19 2007
Effective: March 1 2007
Applicability: These Measures apply to foreign organizations and individuals that conduct surveying and mapping activities within the territory or other maritime jurisdiction of China (Article 2). The surveying and mapping activities of organizations or individuals from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan in the mainland shall, mutatis mutandis, be governed in accordance with these Measures (Article 21).

Main Contents: Surveying and mapping by foreign organizations or individuals within the territory of China shall be conducted together with relevant departments or work units of China in the form of equity or cooperative joint ventures in accordance with the law. Establishment of equity and cooperative joint ventures shall not be required for one-time surveying and mapping activities, but such activities must be subject to the approval of relevant authorities, and shall be conducted jointly with the surveying and mapping personnel from relevant departments and work units of China (Article 6). The Chinese party shall hold a controlling interest in equity and cooperative surveying and mapping joint ventures (Article 8). The results of surveying and mapping in China shall be owned by the Chinese departments or work units, and may not be taken or transmitted out of China in any form without approval in accordance with the law (Article 15).

Related Legislation: PRC Surveying and Mapping Law (Revised), Aug 29 2002; PRC Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Law (2nd Revision), Mar 15 2001, CLP 2001 No.3 p.5; PRC Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Law (Revised), Oct 31 2000, CLP 2000 No.10 p.4; Provisions on the Administration of Qualifications of Surveying and Mapping, Jun 1 2004; and PRC Regulations on the Administration of Surveying and Mapping Results, May 27 2006.