NPC Examines Draft Law on Donation 　　China's top legislature is working on a draft law on public-welfare donations to further promote the sound development of public welfare system in the country. 　　The ninth session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC) of China began in Beijing April 26 to examine the draft law, which had been in the making over the past three years. 　　Zhang Chunsheng, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Committee under the NPC Standing Committee, told the meeting that poor management of donations has made it imperative to adopt a law on the matter. 　　There exist many problems that need to be tackled in the area of public-welfare donation, he said. 　　The managing and supervising systems do not work as well as expected. Some individuals and organizations are found to divert and embezzle donations, or engaged in profit-making activities on the pretext of donation. 　　To better protect the interests of donors' and beneficiaries, the draft law stipulates that those who receive donations give donors legally effective receipts, establish sound accounting systems and publish balance sheets periodically. 　　Every year, those institutions that receive donations should report their revenues and expenditures to the government departments, which have the right to audit their balance sheets if necessary. 　　Under the draft law, donors have the right to inquire about the usage and management of their donations, and to make advises and suggestions. 　　In addition, public-welfare social groups and non-profit organizations should make public information on donations as well as their usage and management, and accept public supervisions. 　　At present, there are various donation-recipients, including government departments, social organizations, various funds, schools and hospitals, Zhang said. 　　To end the chaotic state, the draft law provides that in principle, only the public-welfare social organizations and non-profit institutions should have direct access to donations. 　　But donors could also choose to donate toward other organizations or individuals if they wish to, he added. 　　Zhang revealed that in the process of drafting, there were disagreements over whether government departments should receive donations. 　　After repeated deliberations, the draft concludes that only under special situations, government departments at county level or higher could receive donations. 　　However, all donations thus received must be passed on to public-welfare groups or non-profit institutions, or distribute directly to those who most need them. 　　Government departments must never become the donation beneficiaries, the draft law stipulates. HomeNews 1999-04-27 Page3 Full Story in Chinese