Draft law strives to improve public order
By Meng Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-10-25 21:57

National lawmakers are working to improve legislation on penalties related to public security to better protect individuals' rights and check the power of police officers.

Members of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, Monday conducted a preliminary review of a draft law on penalties related to public security.

Penalties in the public security domain are currently governed by a regulation which was passed by the Standing Committee of the 6th NPC in 1986 and partially revised in 1994.

"With constant economic and social development and the emergence of new problems over the past 18 years, the regulation barely meets the requirements of public security management today," said Tian Qiyu, vice-minister of public security.

Tian said the draft law had added more activities that violate public security and should be punished in order to reflect changes.

Under the draft law, making noises or disturbing neighbours by other means should be fined up to 500 yuan (US$60) if the violators refuse to stop doing so.

Pet owners will be warned if their animals disturb others and the owners who encourage their animals to frighten and hurt others may be detained for up to ten days and be fined up to 1,000 yuan (US$121).

The draft law also covers the crime of disturbing public order by using fake dangerous substances, such as claiming that innocuous white powder is deadly anthrax.

It will also crack down on acts of football hooliganism, such as attacks on the players or the match referee.

The draft law also offers offenders the rights to choose to sue the public security authorities or ask for the higher public security office for an administrative review when they refuse to comply with the decision of the police officers.

"The draft law was designed to be well connected with other laws such as the Criminal Code and the Law on Administrative Penalty for the consolidation of the legal system," Tian said.

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