|Home|News|Reports|Photo|Video|Agenda|Backgrounder|Forum|  
  Property law

Legislature adopts landmark property law

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-03-16 10:36

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), adopted a landmark property law here Friday morning, granting equal protection to public and private properties.

It only took less than a minute for the nearly 3,000 NPC lawmakers to pass the much-revised bill, which had gone through a lengthy legislation process of more than 13 years and a record seven readings, by an overwhelming majority as the NPC concluded its annual full session in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

The lawmakers applauded warmly after NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo announced the voting results. A total of 2,799 lawmakers voted for the law and 52 against. Thirty-seven abstained and one didn't cast vote.

The 247-article law, which is due to come into effect as of October 1, 2007, stipulates that "the property of the state, the collective, the individual and other obligees is protected by law, and no units or individuals may infringe upon it".

This is the first time that equal protection to state and private properties has been enshrined in a Chinese law, which analysts say marks a significant step in the country's efforts to further economic reforms and boost social harmony.

China's state and private properties once suffered from serious violations due to a lack of respect for and protection of property rights.

"The significance of the law's adoption lies in the fact that it helps complete China's property rights system," commented Jiang Ping, former president of the Chinese University of Politic Science and Law.

"Only when people's lawful property is well protected could they have the enthusiasm to create more wealth and could China maintain its economic development," said Jiang, a scholar involved in the early drafting of the law.

The concept of improving the protection of private property was first brought up at the 16th National Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) held in November 2002. In March 2004, the NPC adopted a major amendment to the Chinese Constitution, stating that people's lawful private property is inviolable.

The draft of the property law was first submitted to the NPC Standing Committee in 2002 and had been reviewed for an unprecedented seven times before it finally reached this year's parliament session for final approval.



Question Session

The Supreme People's Court will send back cases to provincial courts for retrial if it evaluates that a death sentence has been passed without proper .

From our readers

 longer: This is a good even small step for both peoples to achieve some kind of mutual understanding.

 kennethchew: China must accelerate its spendings on defence, especially in the area of high-tech weaponry and R&D on outerspace technology if China is to be able to defence itself in any future war.

 Spend: China should spend and invest this money on many things China needs right now. One thing China needs is technology to control pollution and waste. China also needs energy technology.

 Ewald Widiner: I fully agree with Commerce minister Bo Xilai , my advice to the Chinese industry would be to counter this protectionism from the US and from the EU with quality,best achieved in educating and qualification of the workforce.

 Kris: I cannot understand why my country, Canada, has not sent him back.

Hot Forum Topics

 When Taiwan unites, Should Chen Shui Bian be tried in Chinese court for treason?
 9 involved in Shanghai fund scandal get sacked
 Why China cannot be over-populated?
 Beijing demands US cancel planned missile sale to Taiwan
 Washington Post: China plans rise in military spending
 Chinese Premier Wen Jia-bao's article

Photos
Beijing's major thoroughfares are choking. According to a report carried by the Xinhua News Agency on January 11, the city had 2.87 million motor vehicles by the end of last year. That figure is set to shoot up to 3.8 million by 2010.
In the Limelight

Property law:
Property law gets fine-tuned in latest round

 

Corporate tax:
New corporate tax offers level playing field

 

Financial reform:
Healthcare plans in pipeline

 
· Tax on interest hinders consumer spending push
· Time for China to tax property
Slideshow

Nation faces grim job situation,24 million job seekers:

 
· Supportive forces for NPC/CPPCC
· NPC session focuses on social harmony
Video
· Commerce minister & central bank governor meet the press (2)
· Commerce minister & central bank governor meet the press (1)
· Foreign minister meets the press (20)
· Foreign minister meets the press (19)
· Foreign minister meets the press (18)
Tidbits  
    Shark fin dishes under attack
Take all shark fin dishes off the menu before the 2008 Olympic Games, a lawmaker proposed yesterday.
 
    Lawmaker proposes taxation on dog ownership
Dog owners should be taxed to help dampen urbanites' enthusiasm in raising the pets as the fear of rabies is rising.
 
   
Copyright 1995-2006. All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form.
Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
Registration Number: 20100000002731