Zhao Linzhong, 49, is nicknamed an "ace at motions" as he
brought nearly 500 proposals to annual National People's Congress
(NPC) sessions in five years from 1998 to 2003. This year, he has
set forth a total of 83 proposals on varied tough issues and
submitted to the top legislature's imminent annual session.
"I've got my own way to solicit views from general public," said
the legislator from Zhuji city, east China's Zhejiang Province, who
collected motions and proposals with the help of local government
departments, enterprises and communities as well as media agencies.
"I'm ready to acquaint myself with public opinions in an all-round
way," he said.
Zhao, a former civil servant, quit his office work and became
the leader of a money-losing textile mill in 1986, which was later
turned into a profiting textile manufacturer with total assets of
1.5 billion yuan (about US$180.7 million).
In 1998, when Zhao was elected a deputy to the national
legislative body, Zhao decided to bring his managerial talents to
the political arena to manage state affairs. "Though I do not know
much about business, I feel a high sense of honor as an NPC
deputy," he said, acknowledging that "a NPC deputy has to work for
people at the grassroots and to inform the high-ups and serve the
nation wholeheartedly."
Most of his proposals have been responded by relevant
authorities, and Zhao would then sort out and compiled them one by
one, and return them to individual local voters in his native
city.” I’d like my voters to see the outcome, so they would trust
me and confide in me," Zhao told Xinhua.
His proposals have produced an impact on Chinese policy-makers
in a certain way.
In an effort to help cope with a huge amount of surplus
commercial housing in 1998, Zhao proposed lowering the sales prices
of commercial housing within a prescribed time limit. His proposal
was adopted in the ensuing year in China's southernmost Hainan
Province and it turned out to be a success. Last year, his motions
concerning mental health, Internet safety, and employment attracted
attention from the central government departments concerned.
(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2004)
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