China's first draft civil code was submitted to the top legislative
body for preliminary reading yesterday, raising hopes of better
protection of the rights of individuals and corporations.
The draft code designates a whole section to the protection of
personal rights concerning name, image, reputation, honor and
credit.
"It is a major move in enhancing protection of human rights," said
Wang Liming, a leading civil law professor with the Law School of
Renmin University of China.
For the first time, the draft code offers clear provisions on how
to protect an individual's privacy.
The draft has also expanded the scope of compensation for emotional
suffering resulting from the infringement of these rights.
The draft code was welcomed by the public because it filled a major
gap in civil legislation.
It
has also introduced property law - a major part of civil
legislation.
Composed of nine sections, the 216-page draft code is the most
voluminous legislation in the country with around 1,200
clauses.
The 1986 General Principles of Civil Law - currently serving as the
major civil legislation in China - has only 156 clauses.
Since it set a target of building a socialist market economy, the
nation has desperately required a civil code to play a fundamental
role in safeguarding the rights of individuals and corporations,
said Wang Shengming, director of the Civil Legislation Office with
the Legal Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress (NPC).
The draft civil code was submitted to the latest session of the NPC
Standing Committee, which kicked off yesterday.
The six-day session will also review a draft amendment to the
nation's Criminal Code.
The draft amendments also target the illegal employment of child
laborers and the transfer of illegally felled trees, said Hu
Kangsheng, vice-director of the Legal Affairs Commission of the NPC
Standing Committee when he submitted the draft amendments to the
session.
Anyone who hires children aged 16 years or younger to do manual
labor or work in a dangerous environment using explosive,
inflammable, radioactive or poisonous substances faces up to three
years in prison if caught.
But the provisions do not exclude poor youngsters, especially those
in rural areas, from taking part-time jobs to help support their
families, said Huang Taiyun, vice-director of the Criminal
Legislation Office with the Legal Affairs Commission of the NPC
Standing Committee.
The draft amendments also aim to tighten punishment of illegal
trafficking of foreign waste. Those who smuggle solid, liquid or
gaseous waste into China face a sentence of up to five years in
prison.
Gross violators could face sentences of more than five years in
prison and a financial punishment, according to the amendments.
Importers of waste under the pretense of raw materials would face
similar punishments.
(China Daily December 24, 2002)