The law on property rights will only be presented to next year's annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) for approval, a senior lawmaker said in Beijing yesterday.

 

Differences over certain provisions that make an impact on the interests of almost every Chinese were what caused the delay, Yang Jingyu, director of the Law Committee of the NPC, told China Daily.

 

According to China's Legislation Law, a draft law is to be reviewed by legislators at least three times before it is approved. If the interval between reviews exceeds two years, the draft law is taken off the legislators' agenda.

 

In line with the NPC's working plan, the law on property rights will now be reviewed by the top legislature's Standing Committee in August and December to take into consideration varying views and opinions.

 

Earlier media reports have suggested that a Peking University law professor's opposition to the legislation was a catalyst for the change in the legislative process.

 

"That is not true," Yang denied. "It is impossible for an individual to do so."

 

Most people regard the draft of the law as good in general, but differences still exist on some specific issues.

 

"We have solicited more than 11,500 opinions," Yang said. "We changed the legislative process to improve the draft."

 

He also denied that the law goes against the principles of the Constitution because it emphasizes equal protection for both state and private assets.

 

China's Constitution also recognizes the private economy, he noted.

 

Yang said legislators will resume their third review of the draft in June after a nearly two-year break.

 

(China Daily March 9, 2006)