In a bid to encourage public opinion in lawmaking, a group of
legislators has urged the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress to hold more public legislative hearings on
draft legislation.
The first-ever public legislative hearing was held by China's
top legislature on September 27 to discuss the draft amendments to
the personal income tax law. Lawmakers and officials from taxation
and finance departments considered opinions given during the
hearing.
Legislator Zeng Xianzi said holding the public hearing was a
step towards enhancing transparency in the policy-making process.
He suggested more public hearings.
Yang Xingfu, member of the Standing Committee of the 10th NPC,
showed his agreement for the decision to raise the personal taxable
income threshold to 1,600 yuan (US$198), which was adopted last
Thursday. He believes the decision had considered not only opinions
suggested by legislators but also opinions aired at the public
hearing.
Legislator Yang Guoliang said public hearings would help the
legislature to understand the situation on the ground, and make
decision more scientifically.
A public hearing is also a good opportunity to educate the
public on the country's legal system, said another legislator, Ni
Yuefeng.
Li Lianning, one of the legislators who attended the September
27 public hearing, said fairness and transparency were taken into
consideration when selecting the 20 speaker representatives. Some
40 people from various walks of life and regions across the
country, representing different opinions, attended the hearing. The
hearing was also televised and broadcast on the Internet.
Li also noticed that a large amount of money and human resources
were used to organize the hearing. He suggested online hearings and
also allowing more people to attend such hearings in
future.?
China put in force a law on legislation on July 1, 2000, which
provides that the standing committees of local people's congresses
should solicit public opinion when drafting laws and regulations.
The opinion-collecting process might take various forms, including
symposia, debates or hearings.
By the end of 2004, 24 provincial legislative bodies had held 38
legislative hearings on regional draft laws and regulations
concerning market administration, protection of consumer rights,
the environment and resources, construction of urban utilities and
other major issues of public concern.
(China.org.cn by Wu Nanlan November 1, 2005)