China to expand its participatory law-making process

More outreach offices for collecting public suggestions on legislation are to be opened across China to meet stronger demand and to encourage wider participation in the drafting of laws, an official from China's top legislature has said.

The methods for gathering opinions at the outreach offices will also be made easier to use through the wider application of information systems and intelligent platforms, according to Sun Zhenping, deputy head of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

In addition, the outreach offices will serve more diverse functions, such as enhancing legal education and fostering a strong sense of community within the Chinese nation, he added.

Sun released the plan during a recent seminar to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the outreach offices by the commission.

In 2015, to implement the central leadership's directives on comprehensive law-based governance, the commission established its first batch of four outreach offices in Xiangyang, Hubei province; Lintao, Gansu province; Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province; and the Hongqiao subdistrict of Shanghai to solicit legislative suggestions from all walks of life, thereby ensuring the people are the masters of the country.

After 10 years of continuous efforts, the number of such outreach offices has reached 54, covering the entire nation, Sun said, emphasizing that "they have provided a smooth channel for the public at the grassroots level to express legislative ideas and speak out on difficulties".

While comparing these offices to a "direct train" that allows people's voices to be heard directly by China's top legislative body, Sun said that they also represent an innovation in the substantive practice of whole-process people's democracy in the new era.

He cited data showing that, from July 2015 to August this year, the commission solicited over 58,000 legislative suggestions and opinions from the outreach offices, of which more than 3,500 were later incorporated into laws.

Shi Hongli, deputy head of the commission's general office, said that by conducing visits, surveys, video conferences and meetings, the outreach offices have strengthened connections with the people, listened to their opinions and addressed their problems through legislative measures.

For example, during the opinion solicitation for the draft amendment to the Science and Technology Popularization Law, Liu Ersheng, a 71-year-old resident of Shanghai, visited the Hongqiao outreach office and suggested China increase discounts for young people at science and technology venues. This suggestion was later adopted by lawmakers.

Now, young people can enjoy free or discounted admission to science and technology venues in line with the revised law, which took effect in December.

Gao Lina, a senior legislator at the commission, also recalled a case where some students from the East China University of Political Science and Law offered advice on preventing internet addiction, domestic violence and school bullying when the Hongqiao outreach office was collecting opinions on the draft revision to the Minor Protection Law.

According to the draft, police were mandated to issue a warning and require a child's guardian to pay a security deposit if the adult was found to be committing domestic violence against the minor.

"Some students suggested removing that provision, expressing concerns that the security deposit could increase the financial burden on some families and might not effectively protect minors," Gao said.

"In fact, it could potentially be detrimental to their healthy development. We took the suggestion into consideration and ultimately accepted it."

After learning their voices were heard by the top legislature and their opinions had been officially adopted, the students reported feeling a strong sense of fulfillment, noting that participating in the national legislative process through the outreach office was a significant experience in their growth, according to Gao.

The range of legislative suggestions vary across outreach offices in different regions. For example, in Chaoyang district, which is the most populous and largest area of Beijing, most suggestions were centered around stimulating the city's economy, facilitating urban development and promoting international exchanges.

Bao Yuefeng, deputy head of the standing committee of the Chaoyang people's congress, said that since the outreach office was established in July 2021, it has provided 4,657 suggestions on 34 legislative items to the top legislature.

"Considering Chaoyang has over 300,000 registered market entities, we've attached importance to collecting suggestions on economic laws, such as the Company Law, Anti-monopoly Law and Arbitration Law," she said.

"For the Company Law alone, we gathered 421 suggestions from the public."

"Lawyers in Chaoyang account for over 52 percent of the city's total, making the district's lawyers association an indispensable force in our legislative work," she added, revealing the association has provided more than 850 suggestions and opinions on 25 draft legal proposals.