China will not remove its household registration (or hukou) system soon as the reform will be a gradual transition, said Liu He, deputy director of the Central Leading Group of Finance and Economy.

Liu made the remarks at the China Development Forum 2006 held in Beijing Monday.

The country's actual situation determines that removing hukou instantly will bring about difficulties in population administration as a large number of massive rural laborers are moving into cities, so it will be a gradual process, said Liu.

Liu suggested large cities try a "green card" system according to which migrant workers who have worked in a city for one or one and a half years can be qualified for residence in the city and enjoy education, social security and other treatments offered by the city.

By People's Daily Online