Crowdfunding projects may need official approval

Crowdfunding websites might soon be required to seek official approval before they can host fundraising projects that are launched by their financially strapped hosts in order to pay hefty medical bills, according to the latest draft revisions to the country's Charity Law on Monday.

The websites would be obliged to verify user claims in their crowdfunding posts, such as the stated financial status and health conditions, if the draft revisions eventually get passed by the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, at a gathering scheduled on Friday.

The proposed changes were unveiled in a report submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for review on Monday. According to the report, websites such as Shuidichou and Qingsongchou have played "positive roles" in helping financially strapped families pay their health costs, but the operations have been mired by accused misuse of such tools, which has hampered the development of charitable causes.

Lawmakers have proposed revisions after extensive research, the report said.

Passed by the top legislature in 2016, the Charity Law was the first of its kind in China where charitable donations have been growing rapidly in recent decades. Charitable donations, made convenient by online payment methods in recent years, surged past 200 billion yuan ($28 billion) last year, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Charities and mushrooming crowdfunding platforms are viewed by authorities as a crucial vehicle to redistribute social wealth and advance the national common prosperity agenda.