Chinese government on Tuesday announced that new buildings in the quake zone would be exempted from land use fees.

A circular from the ministries of finance and land and resources said the exemption would apply to construction begun since the May 12 earthquake and would last until the end of 2010.

Land use or transfer fees will be waived for housing for the homeless on farm, unused and state-owned land.

The construction of government buildings, schools, and business buildings was also exempted.

The 8-magnitude quake that devastated Sichuan Province left 69,200 dead and destroyed more than 4.5 million homes. The worst-hit area covers more than 100,000 square kilometers.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2008)