Good Samaritans to get just rewards

Good Samaritans in Guangdong province will have the privilege of buying affordable houses and applying for local permanent residency permits.

A set of draft regulations, designed to reward good Samaritans and protect their rights, were published on Sept 7 and open for public feedback.

According to the draft, good Samaritans, their spouses and children will be given priority to apply for hukou, or permanent residency permits that give holders easy access to many public services including education.

If the person becomes disabled or loses their life while doing the good deed, their children will be given priority to attend public schools and will enjoy preferential policies in the entrance examinations to high schools and colleges.

The draft also said that Guangdong residents will be rewarded if they do good deeds outside the province.

The draft regulations are a response to public calls to define good deeds and formalize the reward good Samaritans receive, after the Guangzhou government rewarded a brave young man with Guangzhou hukou in July.

Zhou Cong, a 23-year-old man from Xiaogan city in Hubei province, rescued a little girl falling from a balcony on June 3, but left after she was safe.

He was given a 50,000 yuan ($7,400) reward and offered several job opportunities by large companies.

Ding Zhaolin, professor from Tsinghua University's School of Public Policy and Management, said that detailed, feasible regulations can help the government prove that it's not rewarding only one or two people as a publicity stunt, but that it's sincere in encouraging people to do good deeds.