BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — Chinese lawmakers started deliberating a draft civil code at the annual session of the national legislature, which opened on Friday.
Wang Chen, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), delivered explanatory remarks on the draft civil code to deputies attending the third session of the 13th NPC.
In addition to general provisions and supplementary provisions, the 1,260-article draft has six parts on property, contracts, personality rights, marriage and family, inheritance and tort liabilities.
The compilation of the civil code is an important component of the plans of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core for developing the rule of law, Wang said.
The compilation is of profound significance to advancing law-based governance, promoting high-quality economic development and enhancing public wellbeing, said Wang.
It will further refine China’s basic legal system and rules of conduct in the civil and commercial fields, he added.
Once adopted, it will be the first law code of the People’s Republic of China and a milestone for China’s codification, according to Wang.
The civil code is expected to provide legal guarantees in the form of a complete civil legal system for China to achieve the two centenary goals and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
The decision to compile the civil code was announced in October 2014 at a plenary session of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The legislative process started in June 2016.
The General Provisions of the Civil Law was adopted in 2017. Starting in August 2018, six draft parts were reviewed in different NPC Standing Committee sessions. In December 2019, a complete draft civil code was unveiled.
The NPC Standing Committee decided in its December session that the draft civil code would be presented to the NPC annual session in 2020 for deliberation.
STOCKHOLM, May 23(Greenpost) — Wang Chen, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), speaks at the opening meeting of the third session of the 13th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. Wang read an explanatory document on the draft civil code to deputies attending the third session of the 13th NPC and explained the draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security to the session. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — A draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security was submitted to China’s national legislature for deliberation on Friday.
Wang Chen, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) explained the draft decision to the third session of the 13th NPC, which runs from May 22 to 28.
Since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland, China has been firmly implementing the principles of “one country, two systems,” “the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong,” and a high degree of autonomy, Wang said.
The practice of “one country, two systems” has achieved unprecedented success in Hong Kong, he said.
But the increasingly notable national security risks in the HKSAR have become a prominent problem, the vice chairman said, citing activities that have seriously challenged the bottom line of the “one country, two systems” principle, harmed the rule of law, and threatened national sovereignty, security and development interests.
Law-based and forceful measures must be taken to prevent, stop and punish such activities, he noted.
Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR stipulates that the HKSAR shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People’s Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the HKSAR, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the HKSAR from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.
More than 20 years after Hong Kong’s return, however, relevant laws are yet to materialize due to the sabotage and obstruction by those trying to sow trouble in Hong Kong and China at large, as well as external hostile forces, Wang said.
Considering Hong Kong’s situation at present, efforts must be made at the state-level to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, to change the long-term “defenseless” status in the field of national security, Wang said.
This will advance the institutional building to safeguard national security on the course of China’s Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, he said.
This will also strengthen the work of safeguarding national security and ensure the steady and enduring growth of the cause of “one country, two systems”, he added.
Wang elaborated on the following basic principles:
— Firmly safeguarding national security;
— Upholding and improving the “one country, two systems”;
— Adhering to governing Hong Kong in accordance with the law;
— Resolutely opposing external interference;
— Substantially safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong residents;
The draft decision consists of an introduction and seven articles, according to Wang.
Article 1 states clearly that the country will unswervingly, fully and faithfully implement the principles of “one country, two systems,” “the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong,” and a high degree of autonomy; stresses taking necessary measures to establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, as well as prevent, stop and punish activities endangering national security in accordance with the law;
Article 2 states clearly that the country resolutely opposes the interference in the HKSAR affairs by any foreign or external forces in any form and will take necessary countermeasures;
Article 3 specifies that it is the HKSAR’s constitutional responsibilities to safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; stresses that the HKSAR must complete the national security legislation stipulated in the Basic Law of the HKSAR at an earlier date and HKSAR’s administrative, legislative and judicial organs must, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, effectively prevent, stop and punish acts endangering national security;
Article 4 specifies that the HKSAR must establish and improve the institutions and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security; when needed, relevant national security organs of the Central People’s Government will set up agencies in the HKSAR to fulfill relevant duties to safeguard national security in accordance with the law;
Article 5 specifies that the HKSAR chief executive must regularly report to the Central People’s Government on the HKSAR’s performance of the duty to safeguard national security, carry out national security education and forbid acts of endangering national security;
Article 6 specifies the constitutional meanings of related legislation of the NPC Standing Committee:
(1)Entrusting the NPC Standing Committee to formulate relevant laws on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security. The NPC Standing Committee will exercise its functions and powers of legislation under authorization;
(2)Specifying that relevant legal tasks for the NPC Standing Committee are to effectively prevent, stop and punish any act occurring in the HKSAR to split the country, subvert state power, organize and carry out terrorist activities and other behaviors that seriously endanger national security, as well as activities of foreign and external forces to interfere in the affairs of the HKSAR;
(3)Specifying the method of implementing relevant laws of the NPC Standing Committee in the HKSAR, that is, the NPC Standing Committee makes the decision to include relevant laws into Annex III of the Basic Law of the HKSAR, and the HKSAR promulgates and implements them;
Article 7 specifies that this decision shall go into effect as of the date of promulgation.
After the issuance of the decision, the NPC Standing Committee will work with related parties to formulate relevant laws at an earlier date for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, actively push for settling prominent problems in the national security system of the HKSAR, strengthen the building of special institutions, enforcement mechanisms and law enforcement forces, so as to ensure relevant laws’ effective implementation in the HKSAR, Wang said.
Stockholm, May 23(Greenpost)–Chinese leaders attended deliberations at annual legislative session in Beijing on Friday afternoon, according to Xinhua news agency.
BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — Senior leaders on Friday called for more efforts to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects when attending deliberations at the third session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC).
Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng — members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee — all gave their complete support for the government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang at the session.
When joining deputies from Jiangxi Province in group deliberation, Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, asked legislators to well deliberate and improve a draft civil code, which will be the first basic law defined as a “code” of the People’s Republic of China once adopted.
He said establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security is completely consistent with China’s Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, and will be fully supported by all the Chinese people including the Hong Kong compatriots.
Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, told deputies from Sichuan Province to counteract the impact of COVID-19 and ensure a victory in the fight against poverty.
Wang Huning, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, underscored efforts to promote the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, boost the development of the Xiongan New Area and make good preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics, when participating in deliberation with deputies from Hebei Province.
While deliberating with deputies from Heilongjiang Province, Zhao Leji, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, stressed strengthening supervision over the implementation of major decisions and arrangements.
Deliberating with deputies from Shaanxi Province, Vice Premier Han Zheng underlined efforts to coordinate epidemic containment and economic and social development, take more measures on deepening reform and expanding opening up to solve difficulties facing development, and create bigger room for the development of market entities.