Issue 2 2014

ISSUE 2 · 2014 《中国人大》对外版 NPC National People’s Congress of China ANOTHER MILESTONE OF CHINA’s ENVIRONMENT LEGISLATION Environmental Protection Law (Revised) Zhang Dejiang (R, front), chairman of China’s Na- tional People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Commit- tee, talks with local residents as he visits Xiaoying Street in Hangzhou, capital of East China’s Zhejiang Province, May 10, 2014. Zhang made an inspection tour in Zhejiang from May 8 to 11. Ma Zhancheng Another milestone of China’s 14 environment legislation Contents Special Report Legislation Focus 30 6 14 Food Safety Law to be revised: Another milestone of China’s Grassroots legislature’s tougher and stricter environment legislation role highlighted for better governance 32 Supervision The right way to succeed –A proper understanding of the central government’s policy is key to Hong Kong’s development 22 NPC review and approval of 2013 final account 26 Safeguard the baseline of financial risks Grassroots legislature’s role 6 highlighted for better governance 6 34 30 Xinjiang right on track: Food Safety Law to be revised: ethnic unity and prosperity tougher and stricter ISSUE 2 · 2014 Interparliamentary Exchange 43 China, Nigeria pledge to cement parliamentary links NPC General Editorial People Office Address: 23 Xijiaominxiang, Xicheng District Beijing 100805,P.R.China Tel: (86-10)6309-8540 Nationality 44 Xu Zhenchao: being a deputy, (86-10)8308-3891 embracing a wonderful life E-mail: zgrd@npc.gov.cn 34 ISSN 1674-3008 Xinjiang right on track: ethnic unity CN 11-5683/D and prosperity Price:RMB35 Edited by The People’s Congresses Journal COVER: China’s top legislature revises Environ - Published by The People’s Congresses Journal 40 mental Protection Law. CFP Printed by Beijing Guo Cai Printing Co., Ltd. in China Let the world know a real Tibet SPECIAL REPORT Grassroots legislature’s role highlighted for better governance hina is looking for its nearly 2 million township- level lawmakers to better play their roles in rep- resenting the people in a bid to improve the coun- Ctry’s governance capability. “Deputies to township-level people’s congresses have the closest contact with rural residents and know their appeals best,” said Xie Chuntao, a professor with the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). “These grassroots legislatures are very important in the social governance structure because they realize people’s appeals by channeling them to authorities and supervising work of grassroots government and judicial organs,” Xie said. The system of people’s congresses, the fundamental political system to guarantee the people’s position as masters of the country, was established in 1954. From the national level to a small township, there are people’s congresses and deputies from various backgrounds. In China, deputies to county- and township-level people’s congresses are directly elected by voters, while deputies to people’s congresses above county level are elected by deputies at the next lower level. Unlike Western lawmakers, most Chinese legislators hold another full-time job, working across the country in different During a trip to East China’s Zhejiang Province from May sectors. 8 to 11, 2014, China’s top legislator Zhang Dejiang said the “While senior lawmakers might not be aware of the needs role of township-level people’s congresses should not be un- and concerns of people in remote and rural areas, township derestimated in consolidating the CPC’s ruling foundation deputies are directly elected by the people, work in the elec- and the modernization of the country’s governance system toral districts and live among the voters,” said Sun Shoufeng, and capabilities. director of the research office of the standing committee of Zhang, chairman of the National People’s Congress Stand- the people’s congress in Northeast China’s Jilin Province. ing Committee, called on deputies to people’s congresses at “Such natural connections enable them to know people’s township level to listen to the opinions of the masses in a bet- concerns, reflect their appeals and handle social conflicts in ter way and explore new methods to exercise their power in a timely manner,” Sun said, stressing that the “bridging role” accordance with the law. of grassroots deputies must be given full play. The top legislator also urged efforts to improve elections In a reform plan unveiled after a key CPC meeting in No- of deputies to people’s congresses to ensure that the elections vember, the Party leadership vowed to improve the system are clean and just. of people’s congresses to help it advance with the times and China conducted its latest round of elections of new law- guarantee the people’s position as masters of the country by makers in its counties and townships between 2011 and 2012, innovating the system’s theory and practices. which was also the first since the top legislature revised the 6 NATIONAL PEOPle’s CoNGRESS OF CHINA NPC Zhang Dejiang (C, back), chairman of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, talks with members of local people’s congress as he visits the Miaoxi Town in Huzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, May 9, 2014. Ma Zhancheng Compared with previous years, the lineup of the new lawmakers included fewer officials and an unprecedented equal “More guidance should be given representation of urbanites and farmers. to township-level lawmakers who Drops were reported in the ratio of seats held by CPC or government officials at county and township levels, with both should be encouraged to solve peo- decreasing by 4.37 percent and 2.42 percent respectively. “If grassroots lawmakers could better perform their duty ple’s difficulties and safeguard their on supervising government, the government could perform legal rights,” said Sun Shoufeng. better,” Xie said. The professor, however, acknowledged weaknesses in grassroots people’s congresses, such as slack work styles and Electoral Law in 2010. poor ability in performing their duties. Nearly 600,000 county-level and 1.94 million township- “More guidance should be given to township-level law- level deputies were elected during the period. makers who should be encouraged to solve people’s difficul- According to NPC statistics, more than 981 million people ties and safeguard their legal rights,” Sun said. registered to vote in county-level elections, while 723 million Sun called for efforts to enhance the deputies’ ability to registered for the township-level elections. Over 90 percent perform their duties and improve the related system to guar- voted. antee their rights. (Xinhua) ISSUE 2 · 2014 7 SPECIAL REPORT Building of grassroots political democracy in China Good start (1949-1958) In September 1949, the first plenary session of the Chinese People’s Politi- cal Consultative Conference passed the Common Program, known as pro- visional Constitution of the People’s Republic of China. It prescribed that the National People’s Congress (NPC), On September 20, 1954, the 1st Session of the 1st National People's Congress approves the the local people’s congresses at all Constitution of the People's Republic of China, which becomes the first constitution of China. levels, the central government and the This photo shows the applause made by all the deputies when hearing the report on the voting local governments at all levels are the result. Xinhua organs through which people exercise hoc meetings when necessary. county and township level is responsi- the State power; the people’s congress- In February 1953, the commission ble for supervising the implementation es at all levels are constituted through of the central people’s government of Election Law and making detailed democratic elections; the governments passed the very first Law on Election of arrangements for various elections. at all levels are created by the people’s the country, providing legal guarantee Other aspects are also clearly stipu- congresses at the corresponding level; for people to exercise the right to vote lated in the law, including voter reg- when the people’s congresses at all lev- and to be elected, and truly become the istration, proposing a candidate and els are not in session, their functions master of their lives. There are a couple election procedure. and power are exercised by the gov- of articles in the law related to election According to the Election Law, ernments at the corresponding level. of deputies to the people’s congresses starting from the second half of 1953, In December 1950, the State Coun- of township and village levels. the first election was held in China’s cil issued the General Rule on Orga- The deputies to the people’s con- history, the people’s congresses at nization of Township-level People’s gresses of village, township, municipal township, county and provincial level Representative Conference, stipulat- district and cities not divided into dis- met in session to create the govern- ing that the people’s representative tricts are directly elected by the voters. ment at corresponding levels. 1,226 conference and people’s government The villages and townships with deputies to the first NPC were elected. are set up at the township level; the population below 2,000 can elect 15 In September 1954, the first plenary township-level people’s representative to 20 deputies; those with population session of the first NPC passed the conference is convened by the govern- over 2,000 can elect 20 to 35 depu- Constitution of the People’s Republic ment of the same level and acts as an ties; those whose population is too of China, which made the people’s equivalent with the township-level small can only elect less than 15 depu- congress system as the basic political people’s congress; the township-level ties, but no less than 7; those whose system, and made the township level people’s representative conference is population is too large can elect more as grassroots political authority.

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