ĦĦĦĦBEIJING, March 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The All-China Federation of Industry and
Commerce (ACFIC), an influential non-government organization representing the
country's industrialists and business people from both the public and non-public
sectors, has urged an amendment to the Constitution with regard to a better
protection of private property.
ĦĦĦĦThe ACFIC has submitted a proposal to the just-opened First Session of the
10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body on Monday, asking for a
Constitutional amendment so as to "improve the legal system for the protection
of private property", the China Business Times newspaper reported Monday.
ĦĦĦĦThe proposal suggests that the Chinese Constitution, which now has
different specifications concerning the protection of public and private
property, be revised to show "an equal treatment" to both types of property.
ĦĦĦĦAccording to the proposal, the amended Constitution should explicitly state
that it represents the citizens' basic right to possess private property and
this right is under State protection.Under no circumstance, should any
organization or individual be allowed to seize or damage the private property of
others.
ĦĦĦĦIf the State government, out of concerns for public interests, has to
nationalize or commandeer the property of some enterprises and individuals, it
must give ample and convincing explanations and make due compensations, says the
proposal.
ĦĦĦĦThe proposal further notes that without the Constitutional amendment, it
would be absolutely impossible to revise other existing laws and step up the
protection of private property in China.
ĦĦĦĦThis is not the first time for the ACFIC to set forth such a proposal. In
China, an amendment to the Constitution has to be deliberated and approved at
the once-a-year full session of the National People's Congress, the top
legislature.
ĦĦĦĦThe proposed agenda for this year's NPC session, or the First Session of
the 10th NPC, however, would not include any Constitutional amendment. The
impending session, traditionally held concurrently with the annual session of
the CPPCC's National Session, is due to begin in Beijing Wednesday.
ĦĦĦĦAt its 16th National Congress held in Beijing last November, the leading
Communist Party of China (CPC) declared that "all legitimate income, from work
or not, should be protected" and pointed to the necessity to "improve the legal
system for protecting private property", triggering speculations about a
possible Constitutional amendment. Enditem
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