On his Chinese Law and Politics blog, Carl Minzner asks if recent reports that Yunnan will eliminate the hukou system are accurate:
Short answer – no. At least one website has reported that recent reforms undertaken by the provincial government of Yunnan will “eliminate” the household registration (hukou) system. This isn’t the case.
The announced Yunnan reforms will eliminate the distinction between “agricultural” and “non-agricultural” hukou status, according to an October 25 Xinhua article. Similar reforms have been announced by a number of other provinces and municipalities. But they do not affect the requirement that migrants obtain local hukou in urban areas to receive public services and benefits on an equal basis with other urban residents. [Full text]