In a bid to develop the city’s private sector, an enterprise can apply for permanent residency for one person with an investment of 300,000 yuan (US$36,000), for two with 500,000 yuan and three with 1 million yuan, the new policy said.

　　An enterprise whose accumulated tax in three consecutive years reaches 300,000 yuan can apply permanent residency for three employees and their family members. But the employees are required to have worked for the enterprise for over three consecutive years.

　　The policy is designed to give migrant investors a greater sense of safety and attract more private investors to the city, said Chen Jingzhu, director of a government office in charge of introducing private investment.

　　The government would develop more infrastructure facilities such as schools and hospitals to accommodate more residents, Chen said.

　　According to the city’s development schedule, it will have the capacity for 10 million residents by 2015.

　　Local private entrepreneurs welcome the new policy as it will give them more access to buying cars and sending children to school.

　　As migrants with high educational backgrounds or professional titles have already found it easy to apply for permanent residency in the city, the new policy will mostly benefit those who have rich experience but lack the necessary educational background.

　　Some entrepreneurs said they would take advantage of the new policy and make permanent residency a prize for their employees.

　　Dongguan now has over 10,000 private enterprises, most of which are invested by migrants.

　　Shenzhen has already had similar policies that grant residency to real estate buyers.(Windy Shao)