NA adopts two important resolutions on Long Thanh Airport and HCM City

The ongoing 14th National Assembly (NA)’s fourth meeting, in the early afternoon of November 24, passed two important resolutions on the feasibility study report on land acquisition, compensation and resettlement at Long Thanh International Airport and the preferential mechanisms and policies to develop Ho Chi Minh City.

NA deputies press the voting button to pass the two important solutions on late November 24. (Credit: NDO)
NA deputies press the voting button to pass the two important solutions on late November 24. (Credit: NDO)

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The session heard NA Deputy General Secretary Le Bo Linh present the draft resolution on the feasibility study report on the land acquisition, compensation, support and resettlement project for Long Thanh International Airport located in the southern Dong Nai province. Then the NA deputies voted to pass the resolution, with 94.3% voting in favour.

According to the resolution, the total investment for the project is nearly VND23 trillion (US$1 billion), with the total area of land recovering at 5,400 ha, of which the Long Thanh Airport project covers 5,000 ha, Loc An - Binh Son resettlement area 282.35 ha, Binh Son resettlement area 97 ha, and 20 ha reserved for cemetery land. The resolution also states that the land acquisition, compensation, support and resettlement will be made at once and completed before 2021.

Regarding capital arrangement, the resolution stated that, in addition to the VND5 trillion already allocated, the NA would add VND15 trillion among the VND80 trillion invested for national important projects and VND2.9 trillion from land use fees and initial resettlement land allocation. In the case that the fee for land use and resettlement land allocation is not fully collected, the Government shall report to the NA Standing Committee for consideration and deciding the source in the medium-term investment plan of the State budget for the 2016-2020 period.

The Government also assigned Dong Nai People's Committee to manage, exploit and use the recovered land fund for Long Thanh Airport and to have the responsibility of re-allocating the land according to the schedule. It has also been given priority to leasing land to households and individuals whose agricultural land has been recovered. All proceeds from the auction of land use rights, land allocation, resettlement and land lease under the project shall be refunded to the central budget.

Also on Friday afternoon, the NA passed a resolution on favourable mechanisms and policies to develop HCM City, with 460 out of 465 deputies voting for this resolution, accounting for 93.69%.

The resolution allows HCM City People's Council to propose to the Government for consideration, and submit to the NA Standing Committee for decision, to apply an increased tax rate or tax rate applicable to a number of goods subjected to the special consumption tax and environmental protection tax in the southern economic hub; the tax increase or the tax rate shall not exceed 25% of the current tax rate.

In addition, the Council has also been given the right to decide to apply fees and charges not included in the list of charges and fees, issued together with the Law on Charges and Fees, as well as to raise the charge rates already decided on by the competent authorities for charges and fees on the list of charges and fees issued together with the above law.

The city’s budget is entitled to enjoy 100% of the increase in revenue from the collection adjustment under the two above allowances.

The local budget is also entitled to enjoy 50% of the land use fee when selling public assets associated with assets on land, in accordance with the Law on Management and Use of Public Property, as well as revenue from equitisation and State capital divestment at State-owned enterprises managed by the City's People's Committee, in addition to the proceeds from the divestment of State capital in economic organisations represented as owners by the municipal People's Committee.

The resolution also defined that the income of officials, civil servants and employees is under the management of the city authorities. Income levels for specialists, scientists, special talent are to be set by the municipal People's Committee.

The document takes effect from January 15, 2018. After three years of implementation, the Government shall review and report to the NA at the year-end meeting in 2020, while reviewing the implementation of this resolution at the end of 2022 and proposing to perfect the legal system on mechanisms and policies already implemented on a pilot basis.

Later the same day, the 14th NA wrapped up its fourth sitting after a month long gathering.