There are countries that lack property taxes, but they tend to be communist (china) and you are only buying a 99 year lease. Also, the lack of property taxes doesn't work very well, as it encourages speculation and then sitting on then property doing much with it waiting for values to rise. Property taxes enforces mandatory deprecation (you have to make it productive enough to at least pay the tax) and also funds things like roads, infrastructure and schools without shady corrupt deals.
The 99 year lease is basically identical to ownership as people are exchanging the "lease agreements" like property titles. China hasn't decided what to do when the lease is up but in general it is highly unlikely they'd make you renew the full lease. Most likely they're going to start charging property tax.
humannature, you are probably hellbanned, so I can't reply to your comment directly.
Ok, yes, you are right...70 years, not 99; though there is some suspicion/optimism that the government will extend the leases indefinitely. The property tax in CQ/SH is only on second properties and easily avoided right now through transfers or sham divorces. It will be interesting to see if the gov is really serious about property taxes.
The right to property has never been without responsibility. I can own a house but then I'm responsible for sharing the costs of infrastructure around the house. You would find lower property taxes in the states in areas with little infrastructure (I.e. the bush in Alaska).
Even the city state kings of the first communities needed to provide defense and such, taxation is the obvious way to do that. Taxation of property is quite reasonable compared to head taxes.
