China's top legislature closed its annual session
Sunday after endorsing landmark amendments to the Constitution, which highlight
the protection of private property and enshrines human rights.
The amendments were adopted with an overwhelming 2,863 votes in favour, 10
against and 17 abstentions at the closing meeting of the Second Session of the
10th National People's Congress (NPC).
Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the 10th NPC, said at the
meeting that the Constitution formed the core of China's legal system.
"We should use the endorsement of the amendments as an opportunity to
publicize the Constitution among the whole society, especially for officials at
all levels and government functionaries, to study it, keep it in mind, safeguard
its authority and guarantee it is implemented validly," Wu said.
The amendments stipulate that citizens' lawful private property is
inviolable, putting private assets on an equal footing with public property.
Under the amended Constitution, the country, for the public interest, may
expropriate or requisition private property in accordance with law but must pay
compensation.
Among other things, a clause stating the country respects and preserves human
rights has been added to the first article of the chapter on basic rights and
obligations of citizens.
The 1982 Constitution was previously amended in 1988, 1993 and 1999, also
underscoring the growth of the non-public economy and market economy.
Adoption of the Constitutional amendments Sunday won thunderous applause from
NPC deputies.
Wang Liming, an NPC deputy from Central China's Hubei Province, said the
amendments are vital for the government to manage social and economic affairs in
accordance with the law and to fully protect the interests and rights of the
people.
"It is the first time that the country clarifies compensation for
expropriation even for the sake of public interests. This will help fix a basic
principle for future civil and commercial legislation," said Wang who is also a
professor of civil law with Renmin University of China.
Li Wanzhi, an NPC deputy from Central China's Henan Province, said the
amendments are a highly significant move to give further impetus to the
burgeoning private sector.
"The status of entrepreneurs has been bolstered and now they can be more
confident in developing their business," said Li.
Li also said the Constitution will firmly and equally stand behind private
property of every citizen, regardless of their economic status.
"That's another significance of the amendment," he said.
Fan Zengsheng, an NPC deputy from the Taiwan delegation, said the amendments
timely meet the requirement of overseas and domestic development.
"The newly added human rights protection clause is a common aspiration of the
Chinese people," Fan said.
The Second Session of the 10th NPC Sunday also adopted a resolution
concerning the Report on the Work of the Government delivered by Premier Wen
Jiabao on March 5 when the session began.
Roughly 99 per cent of the NPC deputies voted for the government report,
showing their satisfaction with the new leadership.
Fan said he was deeply impressed by the report which promises to protect the
legal rights and interests of Taiwanese people in the Chinese mainland, thinking
that it will greatly accelerate the reunification of the motherland.
Zhu Xujun, an NPC deputy from Central China's Henan Province, said a new
system or method should be adopted to evaluate the work of officials as the
central government has embraced a "scientific development concept," which will
replace the traditional one which relies heavily on increase of gross domestic
product (GDP).
Zhang Jiangyu, an environmental policy researcher with Tsinghua University,
said he was upbeat about "the scientific approach of development," a hot topic
at the 10-day NPC session.
"The approach should reign on the way to realizing modernization, whether it
is economic development, environmental protection or enhancement of the nation's
core competitiveness."
Lau Puiking, an NPC deputy from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said
she voted for Wen's report because of its down-to-earth style.
"The most striking part lies in the lines to fatten pockets of farmers," said
Lau, also economic professor with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University urged.
The NPC deputies also passed resolutions on the reports on the Implementation
of the 2003 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the Draft
2004 Plan for National Economic and Social Development, with an approval rate of
93 per cent of votes.
The reports on the Implementation of the Central and Local Budgets for 2003
and on the Draft Central and Local Budgets for 2004 won 88 per cent of the
ballots.
The session also voted to adopt the resolutions concerning the Work Report of
the NPC Standing Committee, with 96 per cent of the deputies in favour.
The work report of the Supreme People's Court was approved by 72 per cent of
the NPC deputies while the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate was
endorsed by 75 per cent of the votes.
Moreover, the decision by the NPC Standing Committee to accept resignations
from Hua Fuzhou and Zhang Geng from the NPC Standing Committee was confirmed.
Hua was appointed vice-minister of labour and social securities while Zhang
was named vice-procurator-general last year.
