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Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee
of China's National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the 49th
meeting of the chairpersons of the 10th NPC Standing Committee at the
Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 16, 2006.
(Xinhua Photo)
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BEIJING, Aug.
16 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature will next week hear the first draft of an
anti-drug law, drawn up in an effort to curb drug-related crimes and restrain a
growing population of dope takers.
The anti-drug legislation is on the agenda for the
23rd meeting of the tenth Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
(NPC), said NPC sources.
China has toughened its anti-drug stance in recent
years as the number of drug takers, and drug-related crimes, has grown.
Statistics from the Supreme People's Court showed
that Chinese courts handled 47,232 drug crime cases from January 2005 to May
2006.
Altogether, 53,205 defendants were given sentences in
that period, with 22,371 of the convicts handed tough penalties including life
imprisonment or even the death penalty, the statistics showed.
In June police officials said armed drug smuggling
gangs had emerged in China, and were trying to build a sophisticated network to
sell drugs such as heroine and "ice".
Experts and police have repeatedly called for more
anti-drug legislation to bring drug activities under control. The Ministry of
Public Security has played an active role in drawing up the bill.
Next week, along with the anti-drug bill, a draft law
on the protection of minors will be submitted to the legislature.
For the coming legislative session, held between
August 22 and August 27, lawmakers will also deliberate on an anti-money
laundering bill, a new property law and a bankruptcy law, the source with the
legislature said. Enditem
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