On January 21, Hao Jinsong, a Beijing-based law scholar, filed a lawsuit against the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) because the latter rejected his request to audit a public hearing on cell phone roaming fees, scheduled for January 22.

The prospective cut in the roaming fees has been a big concern of Hao, a regular mobile phone user. On January 4, according to regulations, he submitted an application to the NDRC in order to audit the public hearing that deals with two draft plans concerning the reduction of roaming fees. Twelve days later, he received a reply from the NDRC, refusing his request on the grounds that the organizer lacks enough venue space. Hao contested that it was not proper at all for the NDRC to allow as few as 5 people out of 500 million mobile phone users nationwide to participate in a hearing that concerned the best interests of all cell phone users. Moreover, he viewed the reason given by the NDRC for denying his auditing as ridiculous. In order to protect his legal rights, he decided to take action. 

For more details, please read the full story in Chinese. (http://www.caijing.com.cn/todayspecx/cjkx/2008-01-21/45944.shtml)

(China.org.cn January 22, 2008)