Chinese Lawyers Urged to Tackle Difficult Issues of Public Concern 　　State Councilor Luo Gan called on Chinese lawyers April 26 to assist the government through legal means to resolve various conflicts and contradictions now emerging all over the country, in order to maintain social stability. 　　"Lawyers should take the initiative in providing efficient legal services for addressing difficult issues of public concern relating to economic progress and social stability," said Luo at the 4th National Lawyers' Congress (NLC) which opened in Beijing on April 26. 　　Luo is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Central Political Science and Law Committee. 　　Lawyers should help workers laid-off from state-owned enterprises (SOE) to protect their rights and interests, he said. They should also focus their attention on reform of SEOs, another round of 30-year land contracts now being signed across the country, illegal and exorbitant burdens on farmers, and financial reforms, Luo ended. 　　There are now over 100,000 lawyers working in nearly 9,000 law firms across China. Over 300 lawyer representatives from around the country attended the meeting. Indepth 1999-04-27 Page4 Full Story in Chinese