Wu Bangguo (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the closing session of the 31st session of the 10th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 29, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature ended its week-long bimonthly session on Saturday morning, approving the nomination of the new minister of commerce and adopting a number of bills, including one to raise the monthly individual income tax levy threshold.

    Lawmakers voted to approve the nomination of Chen Deming, former governor of Shaanxi Province, as the new minister of commerce. Chen, born in 1949, replaces 58-year-old Bo Xilai, who was appointed Communist Party chief of the southwestern Chongqing municipality on Dec. 1.

    The amendment to the tax law raises the monthly individual income tax levy threshold from 1,600 yuan (218 U.S. dollars) to 2,000 yuan.

    The change was intended to ease the burden for low- and middle-income earners in light of recent increases in consumer prices. The amendment will take effect on March 1, 2008.

    The law on individual income tax has been amended three times over the past five years. In October, 2005, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) amended the law to raise the individual income tax levy threshold from 800 yuan to 1,600 yuan.

    Last June, the legislature changed the law again to authorize the State Council to suspend or reduce the 20-percent tax on interest earned on personal savings, depending on economic and social conditions.

    "The three amendments were made to offset the increase of people's living expenses and aimed at easing the tax burden of medium- and low-income families," Wu Bangguo, NPC Standing Committee chairman, said at the closing session.

    Lawmakers also voted to adopt a decision on issues related to methods for selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and forming the HKSAR Legislative Council in 2012 and on issues relating to universal suffrage.

    Wu said that the adoption of the methods was an important decision made by the NPC Standing Committee regarding the development of Hong Kong's political system.

    He said the decision was significant to comprehensively implement the principle of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing the HKSAR," and the high degree of autonomy, as well as the HKSAR Basic Law.

    It will also ensure Hong Kong's democratic system will develop in line with the HKSAR Basic Law and in a gradual, progressive and healthy way, and it will maintain and promote long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, Wu said.

    In relation to the methods, the NPC Standing Committee decided that appropriate amendments may be made to the specific method for selecting the fourth HKSAR chief executive and the specific method for forming the fifth term HKSAR Legislative Council in 2012.

    The committee also decided that the election of the fifth HKSAR chief executive in 2017 may be implemented through universal suffrage.

    After the chief executive is selected through universal suffrage, the election of the HKSAR Legislative Council could follow suit, with all of its members to be elected in the same manner.

    The committee decided that the election of the fourth HKSAR Chief Executive in 2012 would not be implemented through universal suffrage. Also, the election of the fifth term HKSAR Legislative Council in 2012 would not be implemented by electing all members through universal suffrage.

    The lawmakers also voted to adopt a draft law on labor dispute mediation and arbitration and the country's first anti-drug law.

    According to NPC statistics, labor disputes have risen continuously in recent years. Those statistics also show that labor dispute arbitration organizations at various levels dealt with 1.72 million cases involving 5.32 million employees from 1987through 2005, with a growth rate of 27.3 percent annually.

    Wu said that the law on mediation and arbitration is another important law aiming at improving China's labor system, following the adoption of the laws on labor contracts and employment promotion earlier this year.

    Under the arbitration law, an organization is entitled to establish its own labor mediation committee to solve internal disputes at its own level. Such a committee should include employees and management representatives.

    Wu said the law, which is aimed at solving labor disputes fairly and in a timely manner, will better protect employees' interests and help promote harmonious labor relations.

    The anti-drug law, which will take effect on June, 1, 2008, is aimed at curbing drug-related crimes and reducing the growing number of users, especially under-aged addicts.

    The law says that owners and managers of discos, bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues must report drug takers to the police or face punishment. Also under the law, drug addicts might be allowed to undertake treatment in their communities for up to three years, rather than being confined to rehabilitation centers as the current regulation requires.

    The law says that minors and pregnant women or those nursing infants less than a year old "are not appropriate for compulsory isolated drug rehabilitation."

    Other bills adopted at the session include a draft amendment to the law on road safety, a draft revision of the law on scientific and technological progress, and a draft amendment to the law on cultural relic protection.

    Lawmakers also voted to adopt a resolution to expel two NPC deputies for disciplinary violations.

    The two ousted NPC deputies are Peng Zhenkun, former president of the Hubei Institute for Nationalities and member of the Agriculture Committee of the NPC, and Du Chongyan, former head of the Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Xiangxi in central Hunan Province.

    The legislature also agreed to hold the annual NPC meeting on March 5 next year.

    High-ranking officials will be voted on by lawmakers at the two-week meeting. These include the chairman of the 11th NPC Standing Committee, the president and vice president of China, the premier and vice premier, cabinet members, the chairman of the Central Military Commission, the president of the Supreme People's Court, and the president of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

    At Saturday's closing session, lawmakers also ratified two international treaties, including one optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child -- which deals with the involvement of children in armed conflict -- and an extradition treaty with Portugal.

HK Chief Executive to be selected by universal suffrage in 2017

    BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Following is the full text of the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Issues Relating to the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2012 and on Issues Relating to Universal Suffrage: Full story

China raises individual income tax threshold

    BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Saturday adopted a law amendment to raise the country's individual income tax threshold from 1,600 yuan a month to 2,000 yuan. Full story

China adopts amendment to road traffic law, emphasizing "respect to life"

    BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature adopted on Saturday an amendment to the country's road traffic safety law, changing one controversial article which has seen frictions between motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians over the past three years. Full story

Amendments to border quarantine, cultural relics protection law adopted

    BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Saturday repealed entry and exit permits for the transport of corpses to simplify procedures for public convenience and to enhance government administration efficiency. Full story

China adopts first anti-drug law amid rising drug-related crimes

    BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers adopted the country's first-ever anti-drug law here on Saturday in a bid to curb drug-related crimes and reduce the growing number of users, especially under-aged addicts. Full story

China revises law to encourage scientists for innovation

    BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Saturday adopted an amendment to the Law on Science and Technology Progress, which aims to create a better environment for making innovations. Full story

China adopts law to streamline labor arbitration, cut costs

    BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature adopted a law on labor dispute mediation and arbitration on Saturday aimed at "fair and timely" settlement of disputes and lower costs for workers seeking to safeguard their rights. The new law takes effect on May 1, 2008. Full story