Pu Zhenyuan, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Guiyang, said that citizens need only point out in a general proposal those areas they think need new laws and regulations, rather than putting forward a specific draft.

Meanwhile, the citizens are also welcome to suggest amendments on 42 laws and regulations currently in effect.

According to China's legislative process, it is normally only related departments who make proposals and drafts on laws.

Pu said that to invite citizens to participate in lawmaking will help ensure that the legislation is more scientific and democratic.

Besides Guiyang, four other provinces and cities, namely Guangdong, Beijing, Gansu and Kunming, have also begun to collect suggestions on lawmaking from citizens.

In Guiyang, so far 67 proposals have been adopted, 20 of which have been listed as key proposals which mainly concern land requisition, food safety and traffic problems.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2002)