Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China (Revised in 2017)

Order of the President of the People's Republic of China No.67

April 27, 2017

The Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China, which was revised and adopted at the 27th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on April 27, 2017, is hereby issued for implementation as of July 1, 2017.

Xi Jinping, president of the People's Republic of China

Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China
(Adopted by the 29th Session of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress on December 28, 1992, revised for the first time at the 29th Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on August 29, 2002, and revised for the second time at the 12th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress on April 27, 2017)

Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Surveying and Mapping Datums and Systems
Chapter III Basic Surveying and Mapping
Chapter IV Boundary Surveying and Mapping and Other Surveying and Mapping
Chapter V Qualifications for Surveying and Mapping
Chapter VI Surveying and Mapping Results
Chapter VII Protection of Surveying Markers
Chapter VIII Supervision
Chapter IX Legal Liability
Chapter X Supplementary Provisions

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 The Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China (this "Law") is enacted to strengthen the administration of the surveying and mapping undertaking, promote its development and ensure that it renders service for the development of the national economy, the building up of national defense, the advancement of society and ecological protection and maintaining of the safety of national geographic information.

Article 2 All surveying and mapping activities in the territorial air, land and waters of the People's Republic of China, as well as other sea areas under its jurisdiction shall be conducted in compliance with this Law.
For the purpose of this Law, surveying and mapping include the activities conducted to determine, collect and formulate the key elements of physical geography or the shapes, sizes, space positions, attributes, etc. of man-made surface installations, as well as to process and provide the data, information and results gained therefrom.

Article 3 The undertaking of surveying and mapping is a basic undertaking for the development of the national economy, the building up of national defense, and the advancement of society. People's governments at all levels shall strengthen leadership of the work in this field.

Article 4 The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council shall be in charge of the unified supervision of the work of surveying and mapping throughout the country. The relevant departments under the State Council shall, in line with the division of their functions and duties specified by the State Council, be responsible for the work of surveying and mapping which they are concerned with.
The competent departments in charge of surveying and mapping under the local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the unified supervision of the work of surveying and mapping within their own administrative areas. The other relevant departments of the local people's governments at or above the county level shall, in line with the division of their functions and duties specified by the people's governments at the corresponding level, be responsible for the work of surveying and mapping which they are concerned with.
The competent department for surveying and mapping of the army shall be responsible for the work of the administration of surveying and mapping done by military departments and shall, in line with the division of its functions and duties specified by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, be responsible for the administration of the basic marine surveying and mapping.

Article 5 In surveying and mapping, the datums and systems prescribed by the State for surveying and mapping shall be employed, and the technical norms and standards prescribed by the State for surveying and mapping shall be applied.

Article 6 The State encourages scientific and technological updating and progress in surveying and mapping and the adoption of advanced technology and equipment so as to raise the surveying and mapping level, advance military and civilian integration and promote the application of surveying and mapping results. The State strengthens the international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation in relation to surveying and mapping.
Units and individuals that make important contributions to scientific and technological updating and progress in surveying and mapping shall be rewarded in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State.

Article 7 People's governments at all levels and relevant departments shall improve publicity and education among citizens in regard to their awareness of the territory of the State and enhance their awareness of the importance of the State territory. News media shall conduct publicity on the awareness of the territory of the State. Administrative departments of education and schools shall include education regarding the awareness of the territory of the State in the teaching content of primary and middle schools, and consolidate education regarding patriotism.

Article 8 Foreign organizations or individuals that wish to conduct surveying and mapping in the territorial air, land or waters, as well as other sea areas under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China shall be subject to approval by the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council and the department for surveying and mapping of the army, and they shall observe the provisions of relevant laws and administrative rules and regulations of the People's Republic of China.
Foreign organizations or individuals that wish to conduct surveying and mapping in the territorial air, land or waters of the People's Republic of China shall join hands with the relevant departments or units of the People's Republic of China and such surveying and mapping may not involve State secrets or endanger State security.

Chapter II Surveying and Mapping Datums and Systems

Article 9 The State has established and adopted nationwide unified geodetic datums, vertical datums, depth datums and gravimetric datums, and the data in this respect shall be examined and verified by the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council, which, after consulting with the relevant departments under the State Council and the department for surveying and mapping of the army, shall submit the data to the State Council for approval.

Article 10 The State has established a nationwide unified geodetic coordinate system, plane coordinate system, vertical system, geocentric coordinate system and gravimetric system, and defined the classification of orders and classes and precision of the national geodetic survey, as well as the national basic scale map series and their basic precision. Specific norms and requirements shall be formulated by the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council in conjunction with the relevant departments under the State Council and the department for surveying and mapping of the army.

Article 11 Where it is really necessary to establish relatively independent plane coordinate systems for major construction projects of the State and large cities determined by the State Council to meet the needs of construction, urban planning and scientific research, the matter shall be subject to approval by the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council; where it is really necessary to establish relatively independent plane coordinate systems for other purposes, the matter shall be subject to approval by the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's government of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government.
The relatively independent plane coordinate systems to be established shall be connected with the national coordinate system.

Article 12 The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council and the competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall, in conjunction with other relevant departments under the people's governments at the same level, establish unified satellite navigation positioning datum service systems and provide public services of navigation positioning datum information under the principle of overall construction and resource sharing.

Article 13 If a satellite navigation positioning datum station is constructed, the construction unit shall, according to the relevant State provisions, report to the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council of the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government concerned for record-filing. The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council shall summarize the record-filing of the construction of satellite navigation positioning datum stations nationwide, and regularly report to the department for surveying and mapping of the army.
For the purpose of this Law, a satellite navigation positioning datum station refers to a ground fixed observation station which continuously observes satellite navigation signals for a long time, and transmits observation data to a data center via communication facilities in real time or regularly.

Article 14 The construction, operation and maintenance of the satellite navigation positioning datum stations shall conform to the State standards and requirements, and shall not endanger the State security.
The construction, operation and maintenance units of the satellite navigation positioning datum stations shall establish data safety guarantee systems, and abide by the provisions of confidentiality laws and administrative regulations.
The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's government at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with other relevant departments of the people's government at the same level, intensify the regulation and guidance for the construction, operation and maintenance of the satellite navigation positioning datum stations.

Chapter III Basic Surveying and Mapping

Article 15 Basic surveying and mapping are a public welfare undertaking. The State exercises administration over basic surveying and mapping at different levels.
For the purpose of this Law, basic surveying and mapping include establishing nationwide unified surveying and mapping datums and systems, taking of basic aerial photographs, obtaining of the remote sensing data of basic geographic information, surveying, producing and renewing the national basic scale map series, photomaps and digital products and establishing and renewing the basic geographic information system.

Article 16 The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council shall, in conjunction with the relevant departments under the State Council and the department for surveying and mapping of the army, take charge of drawing up national plans for basic surveying and mapping, and shall submit the plans to the State Council for approval before making arrangements for their implementation.
The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the local people's governments at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with the relevant departments of the people's governments at the corresponding level, take charge of drawing up the plans for basic surveying and mapping of their own administrative areas on the basis of the basic surveying and mapping plans of the State and of the people's government at the next higher level and in light of the actual conditions of their own administrative areas, submit the plans to the people's governments at the same level for approval and make arrangements for their implementation.

Article 17 The department for surveying and mapping of the army shall be responsible for working out plans for military surveying and mapping and, in line with the division of functions and duties specified by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, take charge of drawing up plans for basic marine surveying and mapping, and make arrangements for their implementation.

Article 18 People's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate basic surveying and mapping into their annual plans for national economic and social development and their budgets for the basic surveying and mapping at the same level.
The department for development and reform under the State Council shall, in conjunction with the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council and on the basis of the national basic surveying and mapping plan, draw up annual plans for national basic surveying and mapping.
The departments for development and reform under the local people's governments at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping at the corresponding level, draw up annual plans for basic surveying and mapping of their own administrative areas on the basis of the basic surveying and mapping plans for their own administrative areas, and submit their annual plans respectively to the competent departments at the next higher level for the record.

Article 19 The results of basic surveying and mapping shall be regularly renewed. The results of basic surveying and mapping urgently needed for the development of the national economy, the building up of national defense, the advancement of society and ecological protection shall be renewed in a timely manner.
The period for renewing the results of basic surveying and mapping shall be determined on the basis of the need for national economic and social development in different areas.

Chapter IV Boundary Surveying and Mapping and Other Surveying and Mapping

Article 20 The national boundaries of the People's Republic of China shall be surveyed and mapped in accordance with the boundary treaties or agreements concluded between the People's Republic of China and its neighboring countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall make arrangements for their implementation. Standard sample maps defining the international boundaries of the People's Republic of China shall be drafted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council and submitted to the State Council for approval and publication.

Article 21 The boundary lines between the administrative areas shall be surveyed and mapped in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State Council. Standard maps drawing the administrative boundaries between provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and between autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties and cities shall be drafted by the department for civil affairs under the State Council and the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council and submitted to the State Council for approval and publication.

Article 22 The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's government at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with the competent department for the registration of real estate under the people's government at the same level, strengthen the administration for the surveying and mapping of real estate.
Article 19 The estate boundary location lines of lands, buildings, structures and other aboveground objects attached to the land shall be surveyed in accordance with the estate boundary location points and estate boundary location lines determined by the local people's governments at or above the county level or with the relevant registration data and attached maps provided by the said governments. When changes in the estate boundary location lines take place, the persons concerned shall, without delay, conduct surveying and mapping accordingly.

Article 23 Projects in the field of urban construction and housing areas related to housing property rights and housing cadastre shall be surveyed in accordance with the norms for surveying which are set under the charge of the competent department for urban and rural housing construction under the State Council and the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council.
Projects for water conservancy, energy, transportation, telecommunications, resource development and in other fields shall be surveyed in accordance with the relevant technical norms of the State for project surveying.

Article 24 To establish a geographic information system, the basic geographic information and data that meet State standards shall be used.

Article 25 The competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments at or above the county level shall, according to the need to respond to emergencies, promptly provide the surveying and mapping results such as maps and basic geographic information and data, and provide emergency surveying and mapping guarantees including remote sensing monitoring and navigation positioning.

Article 26 The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's government at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with other relevant departments under the people's government at the same level, lawfully monitor geographic national conditions, and strictly manage and normatively use the monitoring results of geographic national conditions as per the relevant State provisions.
The people's governments at all levels shall take effective measures to give play to the role of the aforesaid monitoring results in government decision-making, economic and social development and social public services.

Chapter V Qualifications for Surveying and Mapping

Article 27 With regard to units engaged in surveying and mapping activities, the State applies a control system for the qualifications for surveying and mapping.
Units engaged in surveying and mapping activities shall meet the following requirements and obtain the necessary qualification certificates of surveying and mapping for different grades:
1. have the status of legal person;
2. be manned with specialized technicians needed for the surveying and mapping they are engaged in;
3. be equipped with the technical equipment and facilities needed for the surveying and mapping they are engaged in;
4. have a sound technical and quality guarantee system, safety precautions, the management system for information safety and confidentiality and a control system for surveying and mapping results and data files.

Article 28 The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council and competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall, in compliance with their own functions and duties, take charge of examining the qualifications for surveying and mapping as well as of issuing qualification certificates. The specific measures in this respect shall be formulated by the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council after consultation with other relevant departments under the State Council.
The department for surveying and mapping of the army shall be responsible for examination of the qualifications for surveying and mapping of military surveying and mapping units.

Article 29 No surveying and mapping units may engage in surveying and mapping activities by exceeding the scope allowed for their grades of qualification or engage in such activities in the name of other surveying and mapping units, or permit other units to engage in such activities in their names.
Where bidding and tendering are conducted for a surveying and mapping project, the tendering unit of the project shall specify the requirements for the grade of qualifications of surveying and mapping units in the relevant tendering announcement or the invitation for bids, and shall not enable a unit that does not possess the necessary qualification grade of surveying and mapping to win the bidding or a unit to win the bidding at a price lower than the cost of surveying and mapping.
No surveying and mapping units winning the bidding may transfer relevant surveying and mapping projects to others.

Article 30 Specialized technicians engaged in surveying and mapping activities shall possess the necessary professional qualifications. Specific measures in this respect shall be formulated by the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council in conjunction with the competent department for human resources and social security under the State Council.

Article 31 Persons conducting surveying and mapping activities shall hold certificates for surveying and mapping operation.
No units or individuals may hinder or obstruct the surveying and mapping activities conducted by mapping persons in accordance with the law.

Article 32 The designs of the qualification certificate for surveying and mapping units, of the professional certificate for specialized surveying and mapping technicians and of the operation certificate for surveying and mapping persons shall all be worked out by the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council.

Chapter VI Surveying and Mapping Results

Article 33 The State applies the system of summarizing and submitting surveying and mapping results. The State protects the intellectual property rights of surveying and mapping results in accordance with the law.
After a surveying and mapping project is completed, the investor for the project or the surveying and mapping unit undertaking the project invested in by the State shall summarize and submit the materials of the surveying and mapping results to the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council or to the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's government of the relevant province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government. If the results belong to a basic surveying and mapping project, they shall be summarized and submitted in the form of a duplicate copy; if they do not belong to a basic surveying and mapping project, they shall be summarized and submitted in the form of a catalog. The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping in charge of accepting duplicate copies and catalogs of surveying and mapping results shall produce a voucher for receipt of such copies and catalogs and shall, without delay, hand over such copies and catalogs to the unit in charge of their keeping. Specific measures for summarizing and submitting surveying and mapping results shall be formulated by the State Council.
The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council and the competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall regularly compile catalogs of the surveying and mapping results and make them known to the general public.

Article 34 The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments at or above the county level shall actively boost the processing and drawing up of surveying and mapping results of public versions, and advance the social application of surveying and mapping results by means of the provision of surveying and mapping results of public versions and technical confidential treatment.
Units in charge of keeping the surveying and mapping results shall take measures to ensure the completeness and safety of the surveying and mapping results and, in accordance with the relevant state regulations, make them known to the public and make them available for use.
If the surveying and mapping results are in the nature of State secrets, the provisions of laws and administrative regulations governing State secrets shall be applied; in the event that they are required to be provided to foreign organizations or individuals, the procedures of examination and approval laid down by the State Council and the Central Military Commission shall be followed.
According to the provisions of confidentiality laws and administrative regulations, the confidentiality scope and grades of surveying and mapping results shall be determined under the principle of guaranteeing the safety of the State secrets and impelling the sharing and application of geographic information, and be adjusted and published in a timely manner.

Article 35 With respect to the surveying and mapping projects funded by public finance and projects involving surveying and mapping funded by public finance, the relevant departments shall, prior to granting approval for the establishment of such projects, consult with the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's government at the corresponding level. Where there are surveying and mapping results suitable for the projects, they shall be made full use of so as to prevent duplicate surveying and mapping.

Article 36 Where basic surveying and mapping results and other results of surveying and mapping completed with State investment are to be used for decision-making by State organs, building up of national defense and public services, they shall be provided gratis.
For results other than the ones specified in the preceding paragraph, the system for paid use shall be applied in accordance with the law, but the people's governments at all levels, the relevant government departments and the army may use them free of charge in their efforts to meet the needs of such public interests as taking precautions against natural calamities and emergencies and maintaining State security.
Specific measures for use of surveying and mapping results shall be formulated by the State Council.

Article 37 Significant geographic information and data concerning the positions, elevations, depths, areas and lengths of the territorial air, land and waters, as well as other sea areas under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China shall be examined and verified by the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the State Council, and then, after consultation with the relevant departments under the State Council and the department for surveying and mapping of the army, be submitted to the State Council for approval and published by the State Council or by the department authorized by it.

Article 38 The drawing up, publishing, displaying, carrying and updating of maps shall conform to the provisions of the State on the map drawing up standards, the expression of map contents and map review.
The providers of the Internet map services shall use maps that have been reviewed and approved in accordance with the law, establish a safety management system for map data, take safety guarantee measures, intensify the review and proofreading of newly additional contents of the Internet maps, and enhance service quality.
The people's governments at or above the county level and relevant departments including competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping and the Internet information departments shall reinforce the supervision of the drawing up, publishing, displaying, carrying and the Internet map services, guarantee map quality and maintain the state sovereignty, security and interests.
Specific measures for map management shall be formulated by the State Council.

Article 39 Surveying and mapping units shall be responsible for the quality of the surveying and mapping results which they have achieved. The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments at or above the county level shall exercise strict supervision over the quality of the surveying and mapping results.

Article 40 The State encourages the development of the geographic information industry, pushes forward the structural adjustment, optimization and upgrading of the industry, supports the development of different geographic information products, enhances product quality, and promotes the geographic information technologies and equipment that can be used safely and reliably.
The people's governments at or above the county level shall establish and perfect the common construction and sharing mechanisms for the geographic information resources among government departments, guide and support enterprises to provide socialized services of the geographic information, and promote the extensive application of the geographic information.
The competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments at the prefecture level and above shall acquire, process and update the basic geographic information and data in a timely manner, and provide society with the public services of the geographic information via the public service platforms of the geographic information so as to achieve the opening and sharing of the geographic information and data.

Chapter VII Protection of Surveying Markers

Article 41 No units or individuals may damage, destroy or, without authorization, remove permanent surveying markers or temporary surveying markers in use, or seize or occupy the land used for permanent surveying markers; or, within the security control area of a permanent surveying marker, conduct activities which endanger the safety and impair the effective use of the surveying markers.
For the purpose of this Law, permanent surveying markers include signals and stone markers established at triangulation points, baseline points, traverse points, military control points, gravimetric points, astronomic points, leveling points and satellite positioning points of various orders and classes, as well as fixed markers used for topographic mapping, engineering surveying and deformation measurement, and installations at sea-bed geodetic points.

Article 42 A unit that establishes permanent surveying markers shall set up distinct signs for such markers, and entrust an appropriate local unit with the designation of persons specially appointed to take care of them.

Article 43 In carrying out engineering construction, the construction unit shall seek to get around permanent surveying markers; where it is absolutely impossible to get around such markers and necessary to have them removed or rendered ineffective, the matter shall be subject to approval by a competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's government of the relevant province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government. Where a military control point is involved, the matter shall be subject to consent by the department for surveying and mapping of the army. The construction unit shall bear all the expenses incurred as a result of the removal and reestablishment of such markers.

Article 44 When employing permanent surveying markers, the surveying and mapping persons shall hold certificates for surveying and mapping operations and ensure that the markers remain in good condition.
Persons responsible for taking care of the surveying markers shall inspect and examine whether they are intact after employment.

Article 45 People's governments at or above the county level shall take effective measures to improve the protection of the surveying markers.
The competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the relevant regulations, inspect and maintain the permanent surveying markers.
People's governments at the township level shall successfully protect the surveying markers within their own administrative areas.

Chapter VIII Supervision

Article 46 The competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under a people's government at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with other relevant departments under the people's government at the same level, establish a geographic information safety management system and technical prevention and control system, and reinforce the supervision of the geographic information safety.

Article 47 A unit producing, keeping or using the geographic information shall register and keep for a long time the situations of the acquisition, possession, provision and use of the geographic information that is in the nature of a State secret, and implement traceability management.
Where any surveying and mapping activity involves the acquisition, possession, provision or use of the geographic information that is in the nature of a State secret, relevant confidentiality laws, administrative regulations and provisions of the State shall be observed.
Where any unit producing or using the geographic information or a provider of the Internet map services collects or uses any individual information of users, it shall comply with provisions on the protection for the individual information in laws and administrative regulations.

Article 48 The competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments at or above the county level shall implement credit management for surveying and mapping units, and publish their credit information in accordance with the law.

Article 49 The competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments at or above the county level shall establish and perfect a random inspection mechanism, and fulfill supervision and examination duties in accordance with the law. Where any of such departments finds out any behavior suspected of violating this Law, it may take the following measures in accordance with the law:
1. consult and copy the relevant contracts, bills, account books, registration ledgers and other relevant documents and materials; and
2. seal up and seize the equipment, tools, raw materials, surveying and mapping results and data and so on directly related to the surveying and mapping behavior suspected of violating this Law.
The examined unit or individual shall coordinate and faithfully provide relevant documents and data, and shall not conceal them, or reject or hinder such provision.
With respect to any violation of this Law, any unit or individual shall be entitled to report the same to the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's government at or above the county level. The aforesaid department receiving the report shall, without delay, deal with it in accordance with the law.

Chapter IX Legal Liability

Article 50 Where a functionary of the competent department for the geographic information on surveying and mapping or other relevant departments under the people's government at or above the county level, in violation of the provisions of this Law, and by taking advantage of his function, accepts another person's money or things of value or other benefits, or neglects his duties, verifies and issues a qualification certificate for surveying and mapping to a unit that does not meet the statutory requirements, fails to perform his duty of supervision in accordance with the law, or fails to investigate and punish the violations of law discovered, the leaders directly in charge and persons directly liable shall be investigated and imposed sanctions in accordance with the law; and if a crime is constituted, they shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the law.

Article 51 Any foreign organization or individual that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, engages in any surveying and mapping activities without approval or cooperates with a relevant department or unit of the People's Republic of China shall be ordered to desist from the violation, the illegal gains, surveying and mapping results and tools shall be confiscated, and it/he shall be fined not less than CNY100,000 but not more than CNY500,000; if the circumstances are serious, it/he shall be fined not less than CNY500,000 but not more than CNY1 million, and be ordered to leave the country within a specified time limit or be expelled from the country; if a crime is constituted, it/he shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the law.

Article 52 Any unit that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, establishes, without approval, a relatively independent plane coordinate system, or adopts basic geographic information and data which do not conform to the norms of the State to establish geographic information systems, shall be given a disciplinary warning, ordered to effect rectification, and may, in addition, be fined not more than CNY500,000; and the persons directly in charge and the other persons directly liable shall be imposed sanctions in accordance with the law.

Article 53 The construction unit of a satellite navigation positioning datum station that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, fails to report it for record-filing shall be given a disciplinary warning and ordered to effect rectification within a specified time limit; if it fails to do so at the expiration of the time limit, it shall be fined not less than CNY100,000 but not more than CNY300,000; the persons directly in charge and the other persons directly liable shall be imposed sanctions in accordance with the law.

Article 54 Any unit that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, fails to conform to the State standards or requirements with respect to the construction, operation and maintenance of a satellite navigation positioning datum station shall be given a disciplinary warning and ordered to effect rectification within a specified time limit, the illegal gains and surveying and mapping results shall be confiscated, and it shall be fined not less than CNY300,000 but not more than CNY500,000; if it fails to do so at the expiration of the time limit, relevant equipment shall be confiscated; the persons directly in charge and the other persons directly liable shall be imposed sanctions in accordance with the law; and if a crime is constituted, it shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the law.

Article 55 Anyone who, in violation of the provisions of this Law, and, without obtaining qualification certificates for surveying and mapping, engages in surveying and mapping activities shall be ordered to desist from the violation; his unlawful gains and surveying and mapping results shall be confiscated; and, in addition, he shall be fined not less than the amount of, but not more than two times the amount of, the remuneration for surveying and mapping agreed upon; if the circumstances are serious, surveying and mapping tools shall be confiscated.
Where a person engages in surveying and mapping activities with his qualification certificate for surveying and mapping obtained by fraudulent means, his certificate shall be revoked, his unlawful gains and surveying and mapping results shall be confiscated, and, in addition, he shall be fined not less than the amount of, but not more than two times the amount of, the remuneration for surveying and mapping agreed upon; if the circumstances are serious, surveying and mapping tools shall be confiscated.

Article 56 Where a surveying and mapping unit, in violation of the provisions of this Law, commits one of the following acts, it shall be ordered to desist from the violation, its unlawful gains and surveying and mapping results shall be confiscated, it shall be fined not less than the amount of, but not more two times the amount of, the remuneration for surveying and mapping agreed upon, and it may, in addition, be ordered to suspend operation for shake-up or its qualification may be downgraded; and if the circumstances are serious, its qualification certificates for surveying and mapping shall be revoked:
1. engaging in surveying and mapping activities by exceeding the scope allowed for its grade of qualification;
2. engaging in surveying and mapping activities in the name of another surveying and mapping unit; and
3. permitting another unit to engage in surveying and mapping activities in its name.

Article 57 Where the tendering unit of a surveying and mapping project, in violation of this Law, enables a unit that does not possess the necessary qualification grade to win the bidding or forces a surveying and mapping unit to win the bidding at a price lower than the cost of surveying and mapping, it shall be ordered to put it right, and it may be fined not more than two times the amount of the remuneration for surveying and mapping agreed upon. Where a staff member of the tendering unit, taking advantage of his position, extorts or illegally accepts money or things of value from another person or seeks benefits for another person, he shall be imposed sanctions in accordance with the law; if he constitutes a crime, he shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the law.

Article 58 Where a surveying and mapping unit winning the bidding, in violation of the provisions of this Law, transfers a surveying and mapping project to others, it shall be ordered to desist from the violation, its unlawful gains shall be confiscated, it shall be fined not less than the amount of, but not more two times the amount of, the remuneration for surveying and mapping agreed upon, and it may, in addition, be ordered to suspend operation for shake-up or its qualification may be downgraded; and if the circumstances are serious, its qualification certificates for surveying and mapping shall be revoked.

Article 59 Anyone who, in violation of the provisions of this Law and without obtaining qualification certificates for surveying and mapping, engages in surveying and mapping activities, shall be ordered to desist from the violation; his unlawful gains and surveying and mapping results shall be confiscated; and, in addition, the unit for which he works shall be fined not more than two times the amount of the remuneration for surveying and mapping agreed upon; if the circumstance is serious, surveying and mapping tools shall be confiscated; and if losses are caused, he shall bear the responsibility to pay compensation in accordance with the law.

Article 60 Any unit or individual that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, fails to summarize and submit the materials of its/his surveying and mapping results, it/he shall be ordered to summarize and submit the materials within a specified time limit; if it/he fails to do so at the expiration of the time limit, the investor for the surveying and mapping project shall be fined not less than the amount of, but not more than two times the amount of, the expenses entailed by resurveying and remapping of the project; and the unit undertaking the surveying and mapping project invested in by the State shall be fined not less than CNY50,000 but not more than CNY200,000 and its qualification certificate for surveying and mapping shall be temporarily detained; if the unit still fails to summarize and submit the materials of the surveying and mapping results within six months counting from the date its qualification certificate is temporarily detained, its qualification certificate shall be revoked; and the persons directly in charge and the other persons directly liable shall be imposed sanctions in accordance with the law.

Article 61 Any unit that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, publishes, without authorization, significant geographic information and data concerning the territorial air, land and waters, as well as other sea areas under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China shall be given a disciplinary warning, ordered to effect rectification, and may, in addition, be fined not more than CNY500,000; the persons directly in charge and the other persons directly liable shall be imposed sanctions; and if a crime is constituted, it shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the law.

Article 62 Where any map is compiled, published, displayed, carried or updated in violation of this Law or any Internet map service does not conform to the administrative regulations on maps of the State, administrative punishments and sanctions shall be imposed in accordance with the law; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated in accordance with the law.

Article 63 Where a surveying and mapping unit, in violation of the provisions of this Law, achieves unqualified results, it shall be ordered to conduct make-up surveying and mapping or to resurvey and remap the project; if the circumstances are serious, it shall be ordered to suspend operation for shake-up, its qualification be downgraded, or its qualification certificate for surveying and mapping be revoked; and if losses are caused to the user, it shall bear the liability to pay compensation to the user in accordance with the law.

Article 64 Any unit or individual that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, commits one of the following acts shall be given a disciplinary warning and be ordered to effect rectification, and may, in addition, be fined not more than CNY200,000; the persons directly in charge and the other persons directly liable shall be imposed sanctions in accordance with the law; if losses are caused, it/he shall, in accordance with the law, bear the liability to pay compensation; and, if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated in accordance with the law:
1. damages, destroys or, without authorization, removes permanent surveying markers or temporary surveying markers in use;
2. seizes or occupies the land used for permanent surveying markers;
3. within the security control area of a permanent surveying marker, conducts activities which endanger the safety and impair the effective use of the surveying markers;
4. without authorization, dismantles permanent surveying markers or renders them ineffective, or refuses to pay the expenses entailed by the removal and reestablishment of the markers; and
5. damages or destroys permanent surveying markers through violation of the operating rules.

Article 65 Any unit producing, keeping or using the geographic information that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, fails to register or keep for a long time the situations of the acquisition, possession, provision or use of the geographic information that is in the nature of a State secret shall be given a disciplinary warning and ordered to effect rectification, and it may, in addition, be fined not more than CNY200,000; if it leaks any State secret, it shall be ordered to suspend operation for shake-up and its qualification shall be downgraded or its qualification certificates of surveying and mapping shall be revoked; if a crime is constituted, it shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the law.
Any unit that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, acquires, possesses, provides or uses any geographic information that is in the nature of a State secret shall be given a disciplinary warning and be ordered to desist from the violation, illegal gains shall be confiscated, and it may, in addition, be fined not more than two times the amount of illegal gains; the persons directly in charge and the other persons directly liable shall be imposed sanctions in accordance with the law; if losses are caused, it shall, in accordance with the law, bear the liability to pay compensation; and, if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated in accordance with the law.

Article 66 The administrative penalties involving the downgrading of qualifications for surveying and mapping, temporary confiscation of the qualification certificates for surveying and mapping and revoking of such certificates, as provided for by this Law, shall be decided on by the department that issues such certificates; and the other administrative penalties shall be decided on by the competent departments for the geographic information on surveying and mapping under the people's governments at or above the county level.
The order to leave the country within a specified time limit and expulsion from the country, as provided for in Article 51 of this Law, shall be decided on by the public security organ.

Chapter X Supplementary Provisions

Article 67 Administrative measures for military surveying and mapping shall be formulated by the Central Military Commission in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Article 68 This Law shall come into effect as of July 1, 2017.