This year is pivotal in implementing the legislation programs of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC). At the 7th meeting of the 10th NPC Standing Committee, which concluded Sunday, 27 law drafts were included in this year's legislation schedule. The drafts cover such areas as property rights, civil service and emergency response.
Twenty of the drafts are slated for review and approval during 2004, while the other seven will be reviewed as soon as possible and scheduled for discussion at an appropriate time. Thirteen of the drafts are entirely new, and the other 14 are amendments to existing laws. The government considers both the creation of new laws and revision of older ones equally important.
Major new items for legislation are: the Property Rights Law, Bankruptcy Law, Illegal Activity Correction Law, State Civil Servant Law and Emergency Law. Amendments will affect the Foreign Trade Law, Corporation & Company Law, Securities Law, Audit Law, Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Epidemic Diseases and Law on Prevention and Control of Solid Waste Pollution to the Environment.
NPC officials say that their tasks this year are rather arduous. The NPC will also arrange for discussion of legislation items not included above, if they are determined to be necessary and conditions allow.
The draft Constitutional amendment will be submitted to the 2nd Session of the 10th NPC for examination and approval, as was decided at the 6th meeting of the 10th NPC Standing Committee. Thus, it will not be included in this year's legislation schedule again.
(China.org.cn by Li Jinhui March 2, 2004)