Top legislature passes amendments to seven laws

BEIJING - The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, wrapped up its bi-monthly session on Friday, passing a mental health law and amendments to eight existing laws.

President Hu Jintao signed presidential decrees to formally declare the decisions.

The mental health law, which was adopted after three readings, is expected to protect the rights of mentally ill people, reduce abuse and raise public awareness of mental disorders.

Under the law, there should be no infringement upon the dignity, personal safety or property of mentally ill people.

"The new law strictly standardizes the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill people," Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, said while presiding over the closing meeting.

"It has put patients' rights and the public interest in unison, " he said.

"The approval of the law is important for protecting the rights of the mentally ill, raising public mental health standards, promoting the development of mental health undertakings and maintaining social harmony and stability," Wu said.

Amendments to seven laws

To tackle inconsistencies in the Criminal Procedure Law, which was amended in March and will take effect next January, the top legislature also passed amendments to seven laws, such as the Prison Law, Lawyer Law and other related bills.

Wu urged relevant authorities to be well prepared to ensure the accurate and effective enforcement of the Criminal Procedure Law.

The top legislature also passed an amendment to the Postal Law.

The amendment stipulates that postal administrations under provincial level are responsible for the supervision and administration of postal services and markets within their jurisdictions, giving legal authorization for municipal administration.

Report on SOEs

Referring to a report on the reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), Wu stressed that the task of reforming the SOEs is still "onerous."

Wu said lawmakers at the session urged deepened reforms for state-dominated sectors while unswervingly sticking to a basic economic system at the primary stage of socialism.

The government should encourage SOEs to restructure their business, direct state assets toward more important industries, transform their business methods and boost themselves to the high end of the production and profit chain, Wu said.

Wu also called for tightened supervision and an improved budget system for state-owned assets.