You are here: Home > China > Nation

Lawyers demand gov't to open transportation card deposits

: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail CRI, August 22, 2012

Adjust font size:

Three lawyers from different regions of China have sent a joint signature letter to the State Council, demanding that a statement about the management of transportation card deposits be released to the public, the Beijing News reports.

Lawyers demand gov't to open transportation card deposits.[File photo]

The letter written by three lawyers from Beijing, Henan province and Jiangsu province was sent to the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council on Tuesday.

During the first half of this year, lawyer Wang Yu from Beijing, Wen Lihua from Jiangsu province and Ji Laisong from Henan province asked the three local governments to reveal how the transportation card deposits are being used. However, all the three local governments responded that there was no official management method for the deposits.

According to one regulation issued on September 28, 2001 by the Ministry of Finance and Bank of China, the management of the deposits should be formulated by local governments.

Only two cities, Fushun in Liaoning province and Xiamen in southeast China have formulated transportation card deposit management methods.

The lawyers questioned why most other governments haven't complied with a regulation that was issued more than 10 years ago. The lawyers said they readily acknowledged the potential obstacles they will encounter with their questions, but they remain insistent that the local governments deliver appropriate responses.

According to one report from China Youth Daily, the deposit for one transportation card ranges from 10 to 30 yuan among regions. There have been approximately 180 million cards issued, with estimated deposits of 1.8 billion to 5.4 billion yuan.