Reflections on a time of change

Consultation produces more effective laws

In the past decade in Beijing, I have witnessed and reported on the formulation and enactment of many laws.

However, it wasn't until April, when I visited Xiangyang in the central province of Hubei, that I really understood just how much work is involved in making and amending laws.

About five months after the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislative body, unveiled a draft amendment to the Wildlife Protection Law, I visited the city as officials canvassed local opinion to further improve the legislation.

During my high-speed train journey, I thought that the standing committee of the Xiangyang people's congress would just discuss the draft with legal professionals at meetings, then submit their suggestions to the NPC.

When I arrived, I discovered that my assumption had been too simplistic.

First, I visited Xiangyang Zoo and its wildlife protection center with local legislative affairs officials to learn how the city treats wild animals when they are discovered by residents, and the difficulties encountered in capturing them.

Later, the officials took me to visit people living and working in the forests of nearby Nanzhang county, because that is the where the city's wildlife-related problems are most prominent.

In Nanzhang, several law enforcement officials, including those from the local natural resources conservation department and the State Administration for Market Regulation, mentioned that they are not allowed to compensate villagers when agricultural produce is damaged by wild animals.

Villagers are often troubled by wild boars, which eat and destroy their watermelons but are listed under State protection. Some people have erected wire fences to keep the boars out of their fields, but the fences can sometimes harm the animals.

"Obviously, if we just focus on wildlife protection, the villagers may face financial losses or even personal safety risks," the enforcement officials said.

"So it's necessary to seek a balance between protecting the wild animals and upholding people's interests."

They suggested the NPC Standing Committee add a clause in the next version of the draft revision to allow local governments to provide compensation for villagers whose produce is eaten or ruined by wildlife.

Officials from Xiangyang pledged to explain and submit the suggestion to the top legislative body as soon as possible. They told me that they act as a bridge between the public and the NPC, so it is their job to solicit ideas from people in various walks of life to promote legislative efforts.

Although the collection of opinions requires much energy and some even need to be collected multiple times before new drafts, the officials said it is essential as it shows that laws come from the people and are for the people.

Their efforts showed me that upholding people-centered legislation has never just been a slogan and also let me know what drives the birth of laws.

Sometimes, the results may not suit everybody, but I believe the process helps to produce better legislation.