Helping the local community
Lawyer solicits opinions on laws, explains regulations that affect residents’ interests
Wang Hongwei, an experienced lawyer who volunteers with a local legislative outreach office set up by the legislative affairs commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, attends the residents’ representative meeting almost every month at Renmin Guangchang subdistrict in Dalian, Liaoning province.
When the office needs to solicit opinions from the residents about laws or regulations, he explains the basic information, especially concerning their vital interests, and encourages them to express themselves.
“In the beginning, they hesitated to share their opinions, saying ‘We have special units doing legislative work. Does what I say help?’,” said Wang, who is also a deputy to the people’s congress of Xigang district, where the outreach office is located.
“But when they see their words being listened to, acted upon and given feedback, they become more motivated to participate,” he said.
Wang said he loves to participate in this work.
“Working as a lawyer, I utilize the law passively. Now, I can participate in the legislation, thus I can help make it better serve the people and solve practical problems,” he said.
Local legislative outreach offices have been described as direct lines to national legislation for the public. They have proved to be important platforms for the democratic expression of public opinion, demonstrating a unique role in developing wholeprocess people’s democracy and strengthening governance in China.
Since the outreach office at Renmin Guangchang subdistrict was launched on Sept 27 last year, it has connected the country’s highest State organ of power and people at the primary level.
At the meetings, collecting advice for the draft of the revised Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women and other laws and regulations, staff from the subdistrict office and volunteers like Wang meet with local residents face to face.
“Through the office, the opinions of ordinary people are respected and even adopted. I feel honored to be part of the legislation,” said Jiang Baocheng, 67, a resident of the Jiusan community.
“Actually, they not only listen to our opinion, but also popularize the laws and regulations, provide legal advice and help us solve problems,” he said.
A report delivered at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October stated that, “We will improve working mechanisms for drawing on public opinion and pooling the wisdom of the people and ensure that local legislative outreach offices are well run.”
As of September, the legislative affairs commission of the Standing Committee of the NPC had set up 32 legislative outreach offices, covering all provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland.
The outreach office at the Renmin Guangchang subdistrict has solicited opinions on 30 draft laws of the national and provincial people’s congresses. They have put forward nearly 500 suggestions for revision, of which 27 have been adopted by the provincial and city people’s congresses, according to Xu Zhuxian, a civil servant with the Renmin Guangchang subdistrict office.
“Through the office, local residents’ opinions have been recorded and sent directly to the top legislature, thus achieving democratic legislation in a more profound, proactive and extensive manner,” he said.