Exclusive right:Franchiser can apply to buy the County-level or prefectural-level monopoly rights.

独家买断权：加盟店可申请买断县级市、地级市独家经营权；

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Now it has the cache of a prefectural-level status after a ruling by the State Council.

FORBES: China Stoops To Administer In Disputed Southern Waters

County chiefs remain at the mercy of their prefectural-level superiors, who retain a critical say in county appointments.

ECONOMIST: China's other face