China's top legislature on Tuesday held its first-ever legislative hearing, aiming to enhance legislative transparency and to promote democracy in legislation.

The legislative hearing is held for lifting the cutoff point ofthe personal income tax from 800 yuan (US$98.8) to 1,500 yuan (US$185), a major part of the amendment to the Law on Personal Income Tax.

More than 20 people from various walks of life and various regions across the country, selected from nearly 5,000 applicants, attended the hearing.

Their opinions will provide an "important basis" for the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, to make amendments to the personal income tax law.

Yang Jingyu, chairman of the NPC Law Committee, said that the personal income tax threshold has aroused great concern among the general public.

By holding the first-ever public hearing for such an important legislation, "we are collecting the wisdom and proposals of people from all walks of life."

"It is also a major step to increase legislative transparency and democracy," Yang said.

Representatives from government departments and provinces were also given eight minutes each for an individual speech in the hearing.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2005)