Change in local mentality

Other Views

Law to protect people's rights

There should be local laws deciding matters of people's livelihood. But some local governments rely on self-made policies and rules to deal with these matters. Some administrative actions taken by local authorities actually infringe upon citizens' rights and interests, waywardly reducing the people's rights, or increasing their obligations. If the new stipulations of the draft amendment of the Legislative Law are passed, such local policies and rules will be revised or abolished.

Xinhuanet.com. Dec 27

As many local laws and rules directly concern people's interests, it is necessary for the new amendment to stipulate clearly how local government and law-makers should collect people's views. There should be clear-cut stipulations for the organization of hearings and using new media openly and transparently to seek people's advice.

Liu Zhenqi, a member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee. Dec 27

Some "exceptional principles" in the former Legislative Law are too general, giving local governments considerable room to arbitrarily increase citizens' obligations and infringe on their rights. By being more specific, the new amendment can better protect people's legal rights and interests. There should be a legal basis for all government decisions and policies, especially when it comes to matters related to people's interests.

Qiu Baochang, legal adviser for the Beijing consumer's association. Dec 27

There should be an appraisal system for the laws and rules implemented by local authorities. Such an appraisal system, focusing on legitimacy, necessity and rationality, should be done by the third-party agencies entrusted by local lawmakers, so as to protect people's rights and interests from power abuses.

Yang Zhen, a deputy to the National People's Congress. Dec 27

The fast development of China justifies the frequent changes to rules and regulations. Amending the Legislative Law can help China improve the efficiency of its law-making, legislators' professionalism, and the quality of the laws in some key fields concerning social fairness, good governance and the national economy.

Li Buyun, an academic committee member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Dec 27