【正文】 d earmarked for agriculture. The overall plans of cities and the plans of villages and towns shall be dovetailed with the overall plan for land utilization, and the area of land to be used for construction fixed in the former shall not exceed the area fixed in the latter for the cities, villages and towns. In areas covered by the plans of cities, villages and towns, the area of land to be used for construction shall conform to the area as is fixed in such plans. Article 23 Plans for allround harnessing of rivers and lakes and for their development and utilization shall be dovetailed with the overall plan for land utilization. Within areas of the rivers, lakes and reservoirs under control and protection and areas for flood storage or detention, land shall be used in conformity with the plan for allround harnessing of rivers and lakes and for their development and utilization and with the requirements of flood diversion and storage and water transmission from the rivers and lakes. Article 24 People39。s governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government. Among these, the ones drawn up by townships (towns) may be submitted for approval to the people39。s governments of provinces or autonomous regions are located or where the population is over one million, and cities earmarked by the State Council shall be examined for consent by people39。 (4) protecting and improving ecological environment and guaranteeing the sustainable use of land。 (2) increasing the land utilization ratio。s government at the next higher level. In drawing up their overall plans for land utilization, the people39。s governments at different levels shall not exceed the control norm set in such a plan by the people39。s Court within 30 days from the date of receiving notification of the decision. Before a dispute over ownership of land or the right to the use of land is solved, no party may alter the condition in which the land is being used. Chapter III Overall Plans for Land Utilization Article 17 People39。s governments at the township level or at or above the county level. If a party refuses to accept the decision made by the relevant people39。s government. Disputes between units shall be handled by people39。s government at the county level for approval. Article 15 Stateowned land may be operated under a contract by units or individuals for crop cultivation, forestry, animal husbandry or fishery. Land owned by peasant collectives may be operated under a contract for crop cultivation, forestry, animal husbandry or fishery by units or individuals that do not belong to the economic organizations of the said collectives. The party that gives out the contract and the party that undertakes it shall sign a contract in which to stipulate the rights and obligations of both parties. The duration of such contract shall be provided for by the contract. The units or individuals that contract to operate the land shall have the obligation to protect such land and make rational use of it in conformity with the purposes of use provided for in the contract. Land owned by peasant collectives shall be operated under a contract by units or individuals that do not belong to the economic organizations of the said collectives, with the agreement of at least twothirds of the members of the villagers assembly or of the representatives of villagers, and the matter shall be submitted to the township (town) people39。s Republic of China. Article 12 Any change to be lawfully made in land ownership, in the right to the use of land or in the purpose of use of land shall be registered. Article 13 The lawfully registered ownership of land and right to the use of land shall be protected by law and may not be infringed upon by any units or individuals. Article 14 Land owned by peasant collectives shall be operated under a contract by members of the economic organizations of the peasant collectives for crop cultivation, forestry, animal husbandry or fishery. The duration of such contract is 30 years. The party that gives out a contract and the party that undertakes it shall sign a contract in which to stipulate the rights and obligations of both parties. A peasant who undertakes to operate a piece of land under a contract shall have the obligation to protect the land and rationally use it in conformity with the purposes of use provided for in the contract. The right of a peasant to operate land under a contract shall be protected by law. Within the duration of the contract for operation of land, any appropriate readjustment of the land between individual contractors shall be made with the agreement of at least twothirds of the members of the villagers assembly or of the representatives of villagers and the matter shall be submitted to the township (town) people39。s governments at the county level, which shall, upon verification, issue certificates to confirm the right to the use of the land for such construction. Stateowned land to be lawfully used by units or individuals shall be registered with and recorded by people39。 land already owned by a peasant collective of a township (town) shall be operated and managed by the rural collective economic organization of the township (town). Article 11 Land owned by peasant collectives shall be registered with and recorded by people39。 land already owned by different peasant collectives that belong to two or more different collective economic organizations in the village shall be operated and managed by the rural collective economic organizations in the village or by villagers39。 house sites and private plots of cropland and hilly land are owned by peasant collectives. Article 9 Stateowned land and land owned by peasant collectives may be lawfully determined to be used by units or individuals. Units and individuals that use land shall have the obligation to protect and manage the land and make ratio