NPC passes revised civil law provisions

China’s national legislature on Wednesday passed the General Provisions of the Civil Law, the opening chapter of a civil code planned to be enacted in 2020.

The General Provisions were adopted at the closing meeting of the annual session of the National People’s Congress, with 2,782 of the 2,838 deputies present voting in favor. It takes effect on October 1 this year.

To better handle new conditions arising in China’s socio- economic development, lawmakers have revised a number of clauses in the 1986 version and added new ones to better protect individuals and organizations.

The General Provisions add an article for the protection of the interests of fetuses. Fetuses that require protection in the succession of estates and receipt of donations shall be deemed as having the capacity for civil rights.

The General Provisions also lower the statutory age limit for minors with limited capacity for civil conduct from 10 to eight years.

The move is primarily designed to raise minors’ awareness of their rights and obligations, said Zhang Rongshun, vice chairman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee.

The adoption of the General Provisions, which lays down basic principles for regulating civil activities, marks the crucial first step.

The second step, the compiling of five individual books that deal with property, contract, tort liability, marriage and inheritance, started late last year.