A draft law on administrative licensing, which is now undergoing
final scrutiny by national legislators, says that a hearing must be
held prior to the establishment of an administrative license when
there is a conflict of interest to ensure transparency and
fairness.
Administrative licensing is a major government function. It
refers to the issuing of formal legal permission to conduct
business or business-related activities.
The draft law was drawn up by the State Council to streamline
the establishment and enforcement of administrative licensing,
safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of citizens,
corporations and other organizations, and maintain public interest
and social order, while ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency
of administrative management.
The latest session of the Standing Committee of the 10th
National People's Congress, the country's top legislative body, is
expected to vote on the draft law on Wednesday.
Zhang Shicheng, a division chief of the Legislative Affairs
Committee under the Congress Standing Committee, said: "The
introduction of the hearing system into the administrative
licensing process will better ensure that the interests of all
related parties get fully considered.''
Administrative organizations should inform the public that an
administrative license is to be established and hold hearings on
establishing administrative licenses as required by laws and
regulations or when they think a hearing is necessary for the
public interest, according to the draft law.
The bill also grants applicants for a certain administrative
license and other interested individuals the right to demand a
hearing.
The draft law says the administrative organizations should
inform the applicants and interested individuals of their right
before making a decision on the administrative license.
Administrative organizations should hold a hearing within 20
days if the applicants and interested individuals request a hearing
within five days of the administrative organization announcing that
an administrative license is to be established.
Neither the applicants nor the interested individuals should
bear the expenses of such hearings, the draft law says.
The bill also stipulates that administrative organizations
should pay compensation if the administrative licensing process has
been conducted illegally.
Such provisions are a credit to the draft law, legislator Xin
Chunying told a discussion on the bill held by the Congress
Standing Committee at the weekend.
But legislator Gao Zhiguo said the draft law should include more
details on the issues that will require a hearing. He said a
hearing should be required in principle for all administrative
licensing on issues concerning national security, the public
interest, natural resources, public services and human health.
(China Daily August 25, 2003)