Ministry plans special operations to rectify administrative issues

Special operations will be launched to target issues in the administrative law enforcement field such as "one-size-fits-all" and "rough enforcement" to protect the legitimate rights of entities and citizens, an official from the Ministry of Justice said at a news conference on Friday.

Local administrative departments will be tasked with compiling lists of prominent law enforcement issues for focused rectification, said Kong Xiangquan, an official from the Ministry's Administrative Law Enforcement Coordination and Supervision Bureau.

Kong said the ministry is promoting information sharing between administrative law enforcement supervision and the 12345 government service hotline, fully utilizing the platform for public feedback and suggestions on administrative law enforcement.

The ministry will also guide local departments in establishing benchmarks for administrative discretion in areas such as administrative penalties. This includes unifying law enforcement standards, regulating the use of discretion, and addressing issues such as inconsistent penalties for similar cases, he said.

According to the ministry, it submitted a proposal to the State Council, China's cabinet, to launch a three-year action plan aimed at improving the quality of administrative law enforcement. The plan seeks to rectify prominent issues such as inaction, arbitrary actions, rough enforcement, and non-standard practices in law enforcement.

Simultaneously, the ministry has also proposed to the State Council the cancellation or adjustment of 33 fine items across nine areas, focusing on resolving key issues, such as arbitrary fines, that have been strongly protested by businesses and the public.

Kong noted that the ministry will guide and supervise relevant departments to comprehensively consider all factors and industry-specific characteristics when setting fines to avoid penalties that do not match the severity of violations.

The system for managing law enforcement personnel qualifications and certifications will be fully implemented, and the entry and exit mechanisms for law enforcement personnel will be improved to minimize issues such as negligence or misconduct.

Authorities will also enforce an accountability system for administrative law enforcement, complemented by a continuous training mechanism for administrative officers, Kong added.

Furthermore, the ministry is deepening efforts to streamline notarization and certification processes for public convenience. It has published a standardized list of 81 types of certification materials across 33 categories, and reduced 116 unnecessary certification items, effectively addressing issues such as redundant and unnecessary documentation.