Legislature to vote on amendments to state secrets, state compensation laws Thursday
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Chinese lawmakers Wednesday put final touches on draft amendments to the Law on Guarding State Secrets and the State Compensation Law, one day ahead of the vote on the amendments and the closure of the four-day bimonthly legislative session.
Members of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, or the top legislature, suggested written notification be given within ten days if a decision to not grant state compensation is made. They also suggested an explanation be given with the notification.
The previous, or the third, draft amendments only concerned cases when the state pays compensation. It said that within ten days, a written decision of granting state compensation must be given to the compensation applicant.
Some lawmakers said an odd number of judges should be on the compensation committee - which will be set up in courts above the intermediate level - to ensure decisions are "majority rule."
The previous draft stipulated compensation committees be composed of not less than three judges.
The final draft was revised in accordance with the lawmakers' suggestions.
Lawmakers also suggested time limits on the reexamination of compensation decisions.
The final draft stipulated that reexaminations occur within two months of the decisions found violating the law.
The amendments to the 15-year-old State Compensation Law aim to better defend people's rights from being violated by the state.
Meanwhile, the draft amendments to the Law on Guarding State Secrets, currently under review by the top legislature for the third time, is also expected to be voted on Thursday.
Members of the NPC Standing Committee suggested adding stipulations that ensure the legal interests of state-secret personnel.
They also suggested clarifying scales of confidentiality, procedures and examination rules for declassification. The NPC Law Committee proposed the government enact relevant laws.
Top legislator Wu Bangguo presided over the meeting of the Council of Chairmen that decided to submit the two law amendments to a vote.
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