On April 19, the Jiangsu provincial government officially published a draft of Methods on Implementing Work Injury Insurance Ordinance on its website and in various local media to solicit public opinion. This is the first government ordinance released to the public since Jiangsu made it a rule to take public opinion into account in government legislation.

According to the public-opinion solicitation statute drawn recently by the Legislation Affairs Office of the Jiangsu provincial government, all local bill drafts and provincial government administrative ordinance drafts shall be publicized before getting approval from the government. The drafts shall be released on the government official website and their prints shall be available for the citizens to take. Drafts of those concerning principle public interest must be publicized in newspapers and other mass media.

Citizens can air their views in 20 days after a draft is publicized. Relevant authorities shall gather the views and discuss them with the drafting department on whether they should be taken into consideration. Whatever the result is, there should be reasons articulated. Regarding popular opinions on some hot issues, a response must be given to the individuals who have made comments or suggestions. In addition, the process and result of the solicitation must be briefed in the report presented for the draft’s examination and approval. 

In the past, local legislation usually held seminars or meetings for experts and common people separately before they worked out a new law or regulation. Today, as the social structure in China has diversified, a bill will not gain full acceptance and support unless all parties have had their sayings during the process.

“The public view solicitation ordinance will let the public play bigger roles in local legislation and enhance the transparency and democracy in local law-making,” said Zhang Yaodong, deputy director of the Jiangsu Provincial Legislation Affairs Office.

(China.org.cn by Xu Zhiquan, April 23, 2004)