Care and caution in the Chinese legislature's examination, discussion and modification of the Law on Property Rights is necessary because the proposed legislation is an important component of the country's civil code and legal framework, according to Kan Ke, spokesman for the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), as quoted in a China Youth Daily report on Monday.

Currently, the Law on Property Rights is still in the deliberation and modification process. Due to the varying opinions and comments that it has attracted, the draft was not put up for a vote at the recently concluded NPC session as originally scheduled.

"It is normal to have this or that problem during the drafting process," Kan said.

But he also acknowledged that "the legislation is indeed a top priority."

The NPC Standing Committee had so far studied the draft four times. Last July, a draft was publicized to solicit public opinion. Over 10,000 responses were received.

Kan said that some of these responses contained opinions that had already been taken into account during the drafting process.

"The revised draft will be submitted to the National People's Congress for deliberation at an appropriate time," he said, giving no specific date.

(China.org.cn by Tang Fuchun March 29, 2006)