Procedures to purchase and develop uninhabited islands for non-residential use go into effect on May 1. The Zhuhai islands are under national protection so owners must provide for their resources, ecological environment, historical and cultural heritage, and public safety.

An entity or individual can apply to ocean administration authorities for an immovable-property right certificate and construction scheme approval. The Standing Committee of the 9th Zhuhai Municipal People's Congress had endorsed the Regulations on the Development & Utilization of Uninhabited Islands at its 17th session on Nov 30, 2018.

In accordance with national and provincial procedures, a detailed development plan and project feasibility report must support each application.  

City of a Hundred Islands [Photo courtesy WeChat ID: zhuhaifabu]

The documents will then be submitted to the provincial government and State Council for approval, at which time application for the immovable-property right certificate can be made at Zhuhai’s real estate registration organization.

A construction implementation plan must also be formulated to be reviewed by Zhuhai ocean and ecological environmental authorities before it can be approved by the city government.

The real estate certificate, construction plan approval forms, and other essential documents are needed before applying for an engineering plan permit. Other construction issues such as architecture, fire protection, transportation, water conservancy, and civil air defense can also be done without land approvals or land-use plan permits.

After the construction project is completed and accepted, information about buildings and structures on the island can be added to the immovable-property certificate.

Last July, Zhuhai Jiuzhou Holdings Group committed to a demonstration project on quarry-devastated Sanjiao Island following the country's first release of a real estate registration certificate for an uninhabited island. The company will promote green ecological development on the island as a "public service + tourism" destination.