[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, it is recommended to apply for seven items at once: the project approval and approval of the expropriation, the approval of land expropriation, the pre-announcement of expropriation, the social stability risk assessment report, the compensation and resettlement plan and announcement, the proof of the availability of compensation funds, and the announcement of expropriation — this list covers all the key points of the legality of expropriation and the implementation of compensation. According to Article 33 of the "Regulations on the Disclosure of Government Information of the People's Republic of China" (implemented on May 15, 2019), the administrative organ shall reply within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the application; if the application is rejected, no reply is given, or the reply is not relevant to the request, the applicant may file an administrative review or lawsuit with the postal receipt as evidence. Information disclosure is the starting point of all land expropriation rights protection and the fastest way to fix the other party's illegal points.

I. Problem Background and Typical Scenarios

I've never seen a compensation plan, there's no official announcement, and I haven't received an evaluation report—the people being expropriated generally face information asymmetry: they don't understand the basis and scope of the expropriation, so they can only be led by the offers in the negotiations; they don't know whether the funds are in place, so they feel uncertain about signing the contract. If they make good use of the application for information disclosure, it's like a physical examination report for protecting their rights.

II. Key points of dispute

First, the accuracy of the application scope and target audience—who to apply to and what to apply for—directly affects the quality of the response. Second, reviewing responses that state "the information does not exist"—whether the information should have been provided but wasn't, or whether it genuinely doesn't exist. Third, the legal consequences of refusing to accept applications or failing to respond within the deadline. Fourth, how to seek further remedies when the response content does not match the application requirements.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Lawyers

The two information disclosure cases handled by Henglue Law Firm highlight the typical dilemmas faced by applicants. **First case**: Villagers whose houses were expropriated for high-speed rail construction but received no compensation filed seven information disclosure requests to the municipal government by mail on September 23, 2025, with the requests being signed for receipt the next day. However, the municipal government refused to provide any information on October 29, citing "the houses were not expropriated and the information did not exist." The lawyer filed an administrative reconsideration. After the first reconsideration ordered a retake, the revised response still failed to meet the applicant's requirements. A second reconsideration was initiated, highlighting multiple violations: the pre-announcement and announcement of the expropriation did not comply with legal formalities, content, or subject requirements; the proof of compensation funds being in place did not match the request and violated Article 32(4) of the Implementing Regulations of the Land Administration Law, which requires specifying the amount, timing, special account, and expropriation scope; the statutory entity responsible for preparing and preserving the stability assessment report should be county-level or higher governments, and refusing to provide it based on non-statutory entities is unlawful; and the announcement of the compensation and resettlement plan failed to be publicly disclosed according to law. On April 14, 2026, the reconsideration authority ruled that the government failed to fulfill its information disclosure obligations and ordered a new response. **Second case**: After villagers' houses were forcibly demolished, their information disclosure requests were rejected or left unanswered beyond the deadline. The lawyer initiated an administrative reconsideration based on Article 33 of the Government Information Disclosure Regulations. During the reconsideration, the respondent failed to submit a response or evidence, which was deemed as lacking legal basis under Article 70 of the Administrative Reconsideration Law (amended in 2023 and effective from January 1, 2024). The reconsideration authority ordered the respondent to fulfill its disclosure obligations within a specified timeframe. These cases demonstrate that maintaining evidence of the application process (mailing receipts, signed records) and verifying legal requirements in the response phase are fundamental to successful information disclosure efforts. The case was handled by Beijing Henglue Law Firm.He NingningThe lawyer (practice license number: 11101202511925103, subject to the document issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

Application Key Points: The application shall clearly state the applicant's information, the application content (listing the document names item by item), the purpose of the information (for daily needs), and the method of obtaining it; it shall be submitted to the administrative organ that produced or stored the information; and it shall be mailed by EMS and the proof of delivery and the record of receipt shall be retained. The review value of the seven pieces of information: the approval decision verifies the legality of the project; the announcement verifies the procedural nodes; the plan verifies the compensation standards; the fund proof verifies the implementation capacity; and the stability assessment verifies the completeness of the procedure. Main legal basis: Article 13, Article 27, and Article 33 of the Regulations on the Openness of Government Information of the People's Republic of China (effective May 15, 2019); Articles 26, 28, and 32 of the Implementing Regulations of the Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (amended in 2021); relevant provisions of the Administrative Review Law of the People's Republic of China (amended in 2023 and effective from January 1, 2024); and the specific application shall be subject to the currently effective regulations.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Advice

Three practical tips: The more specific your application is, the harder it will be for the authorities to give vague responses—a general request for "all land expropriation materials" is likely to be rejected with the excuse of unclear content; don't be disappointed when you receive a response—a response that avoids the key issues can itself serve as a reason for appeal; and stick to the timeline of the entire process—a response deadline of 20 working days, a 60-day appeal period, and a six-month litigation period. Missing these deadlines means giving up control of the situation. For matters involving land expropriation information disclosure and administrative rights protection, you can seek help through legal channels.Land expropriation and demolition, and administrative litigationYou can refer to it when reviewing the compensation plan for obtaining an overall solution for the serviceReal estate transactions and construction projectsThe column can combine the content related to the effectiveness of the agreement.Business and contract disputes in enterprisesFor information on the acquisition of non-residential factories, please feel free to consult usIntellectual property protection and corporate lawFor teams, please contact us for difficult cases.Special services.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is there a fee for submitting an application for information disclosure?

Generally, administrative authorities do not charge fees for providing government information upon request. However, in certain circumstances, if the number of requests exceeds a reasonable level, applicants may be required to pay information processing fees, which shall be implemented in accordance with the regulations and relevant national provisions. Normally, a small number of requests are usually free of charge.

Q2: What should I do if the government replies that "the information doesn't exist"?

A party may initiate a reconsideration or lawsuit to require the administrative organ to explain the retrieval process. If the information should have been produced but was not produced, or should have been disclosed but was not disclosed, the reconsideration organ may order the administrative organ to perform its duties. In the Henglue case, the two reconsiderations prompted the government to respond again.

Q3: Will applying for information disclosure result in being held grudges against or subjected to retaliation?

Applying according to the law is a statutory right, and the regulations do not impose any restrictions on applicants. In practice, it is necessary to maintain written and procedural communication, and all disputes should be resolved through the channels of reconsideration and litigation. This not only protects rights and interests but also reduces the risk of confrontation.

Q4: How long will it take to receive a reply?

Within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the application, the time limit may be extended by no more than 20 working days with the consent of the responsible person and upon notification; if the application is rejected or not replied to within the time limit, the review procedure may be initiated immediately.

Q5: What should I do next after obtaining the information?

Using the method of comparing each statutory element to identify the illegal points: whether the approval is expired, whether the announcement is incomplete, whether the plan has solicited opinions, and whether the funds are sufficient; once the illegal points are clear, the target of the reconsideration litigation or negotiation will be identified.

The above answer is based on the judicial practice in the Beijing area. The adjudication guidelines in other provinces and cities may vary. For specific cases, please refer to the local rules and evidence situations.

If you are currently facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the relevant evidence materials, to avoid missing the statutory time limits. →Land expropriation and demolition legal services·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and public adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. In case of disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.