China to clear approval items to streamline administration

BEIJING -- China's top legislature is considering clearing or simplifying approval items on 11 draft amendments to better streamline administration.

The draft amendments were put before the National People's Congress Standing Committee during the bimonthly session, which runs from Monday to Saturday.

Legislators deliberated on draft amendments to laws including marine environment protection and cultural relics protection.

They suggested canceling 11 administrative approval items, including requirements to gain permission from environmental departments when choosing sewage outlet sites and from provincial government departments when borrowing cultural relics from museums.

Instead of getting permission from various departments, sewage outlet sites to the sea need only be reported to environmental departments, and cultural relics borrowed for exhibitions and scientific research need to be recorded with the cultural relics department of the State Council.

A number of clauses were also suggested for amendment to cut approval requirements in the draft amendments to the Chinese-foreign contractual joint ventures law, highway law, and port law, among others. The government will strengthen oversight after revision.

To simplify administrative procedures, optimize services and reduce burdens on businesses and individuals, the government is committed to redistributing authority or eliminating excess requirements.