东莞土地案争议：17亿元全额付款土地被无偿收回，再罚款3亿

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a significant legal dispute involving two private companies, Hechuang Company and Herong Company, over a land acquisition in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, where the local government decided to reclaim the land and impose a hefty penalty for alleged idleness, raising questions about the fairness and legality of such actions [4][10][27]. Group 1: Background of the Case - In 2019, Hechuang Company and Herong Company paid a total of 1.721 billion yuan for 258 acres of land in Dongguan for the "Ziguang Chip Cloud Industrial City Project" [4][11]. - The land was intended for developing a digital and intelligent industrial new city, including a 5G technology research center and a commercial complex [11][14]. - The companies faced significant delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered project progress and communication with international design teams [14][16]. Group 2: Government Actions - In 2021, Dongguan's Natural Resources Bureau initiated an investigation into the alleged idleness of the land, leading to a decision in 2023 to impose a 344 million yuan penalty and reclaim the land [5][20][27]. - The government cited the "Idle Land Disposal Measures," stating that the land was deemed idle as the companies failed to commence development within the stipulated timeframe [20][27]. - The companies contested the government's actions, arguing that the pandemic constituted a force majeure event that should exempt them from penalties [31][32]. Group 3: Legal Proceedings - The companies filed lawsuits against the Dongguan government and the Natural Resources Bureau, but the first instance court ruled against them in January 2025 [7][33]. - The companies appealed the decision, and the second instance court hearing took place in May 2025, with a ruling still pending as of September 2025 [9][35]. - The first instance court acknowledged procedural flaws in the government's investigation but maintained that it did not affect the determination of the land's status [33].