Improving legislation for environmental protection was a hot topic at the Environment and Resources Protection Conference of the National People's Congress (NPC).

The three-day event ended yesterday in Shanghai.

"Nowadays, the attention given to the amendment of old laws is much less than that given to the drafting of new laws," said Mao Rubai of the NPC Environment and Resources Protection Committee.

"Similarly, the legislative work is more focused on the writing period than the reviewing."

But he said that a sound legal structure for environmental protection is not determined solely by the number of laws.

"Only with good quality can the laws be better implemented," Mao added, pointing out that some of the problems encountered in environmental work have a lot to do with legislation.

Sheng Huaren, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, voiced similar sentiments, and said several pieces of environmental legislation now top the NPC agenda.

They include promotion and protection of natural reserves and protection and development of sea islands.

China is the world's largest coal consuming country, and development and use of coal resources have resulted in widespread environmental and biological problems.

In 1994, the State Council passed the Natural Reserve Protection Regulation, but after so many years the regulation has in many ways failed to keep pace with the new situation.

"The establishment and management of natural reserves is still chaotic," Mao said.

The lack of healthy plans and over-development are rampant. Thus a law to further enhance the protection and management of the reserves is under consideration.

(China Daily November 6, 2003)