Article 9 With respect to articles or goods confiscated or used to offset tax money or fines by the administrative organs of the State in accordance with law and other articles or goods, all of which should be auctioned through authorization as prescribed by regulations of the State Council, the auction shall be conducted by auctioneers designated by the people's governments of the provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government or of the cities divided into districts, where such property is located.
Auction of articles or goods confiscated or used to offset tax money or fines by the People's Courts in accordance with law and other articles or goods that are retrieved but cannot be returned to their owners shall be governed by the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Chapter III Parties to Auction
Section 1 Auctioneer

Article 10 An auctioneer refers to an enterprise legal person that is established in accordance with this Law and the Company Law of the People's Republic of China and engaged in activities of auction.

Article 11 Auction enterprises may be established in cities divided into districts. Establishment of an auction enterprise shall be subject to examination, verification and permission by the department in charge of the auction trade under the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government in the place where the enterprise is to be established and shall be registered with the administrative department for industry and commerce for obtaining of a business license.

Article 12 To establish an auction enterprise, the following conditions shall be satisfied:
(1) having a registered capital of RMB one million yuan or more;
(2) having its own name, organizational structure, premises and Articles of Association;
(3) having auction masters and other employees commensurate to the trade;
(4) having rules for the auction trade that comform to the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws;
(5) complying with the regulations of the State Council regarding development of the auction trade; and
(6) other conditions as provided for by the laws or administrative rules and regulations.

Article 13 An auction enterprise engaged in the auction of cultural relics shall have a registered capital of RMB10 million yuan or more and employees equipped with the professional knowledge about auction of cultural relics.

Article 14 Auction activities shall be presided over by auction masters.