More than 4.07 million people in China have received legal aid in 2007, up 28 percent over the previous year, according to China's Ministry of Justice.

More than 420,000 cases of legal aid were handled last year, said the Ministry, adding that more than 150,000 migrant workers had received legal assistance in about 120,000 cases, or 28.6 percent of the total.

The ministry's statistics show more than 40,000 disabled people received legal aid and 845 legal aid departments and organizations have set up green channels for the disabled .

To ensure all members of the public have access to legal aid, local judiciary organs had taken measures, including special channels for the elderly and disabled, and phone and on-line consultations, according to the ministry.

Local judiciary departments had also organized lawyers to visit villages, prisons and factories to provide services for the needy.

More than 20 provinces had set up legal aid funds, and 10 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities had allocated special legal aid funds for migrant workers.

Legal aid volunteer teams were set up in Shandong, Shanghai, Fujian, Beijing, Jiangsu and Jiangxi to improve quality and efficiency, said the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 11, 2008)