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Hainan gets legal adviser to help government
By Di Fang (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-04-19 06:43
The government in South China's Hainan Province will turn to its new chief
legal adviser for help before making every decision, the People's Daily said
yesterday.
Xu Qianfei, who is currently serving as director of the Legislative Affairs
Office in Hainan, has been appointed as the new chief legal adviser. He has more
than 17 years' experience working in the country's legal organizations, the
newspaper said.
It is the first time for governments at provincial level to involve an
adviser in decision-making, the newspaper noted.
Policy-making
Liu Dengshan, vice-director of the Legislative Affairs Office of Hainan
Province, said in the newspaper that "local governments seldom ask for advice
from legal experts in policy-making in the first place.
"Only when they have a legal problem will they resort to legal advice.
Hainan's move is a step forward for better, law-based administration."
In line with a new rule regulating the work of the chief legal adviser passed
on March 22, Xu will be responsible for eight sectors, including providing
professional suggestions for the provincial government's decision-making,
dealing with civil, economic and administrative lawsuits, and arbitrating on
behalf of the government. He will also participate in and co-ordinate
negotiations over trade, investment and other contracts the government is
involved in.
Legal responsibility
"Being appointed chief legal adviser reinforces my legal responsibility to
the government," Xu told Hainan Special Zone News.
He said he will be supported by more than 40 lawyers employed by the
government. "Legal consultation can help avoid mistakes in decision-making, thus
reducing the damage to the public. And legal advice will ward off risks involved
with governmental investment," Xu said in the local newspaper.
"But what I just provide is legal advice, I cannot replace the government in
making decisions. The government will take other factors into consideration in
order to make its final decision," Xu also said.
(China Daily 04/19/2005 page3)
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