Deputies to the National People's Congress are voicing themselves more loudly and clearly in recent years when discussing State affairs.

"Deputies are more outspoken now in expressing their ideas," said Zhang Zhongli, an 18-year NPC deputy from Shanghai.

Zhang attributed the improvement to a change in attitude: Deputies once regarded their NPC participation more as an honour; in recent years they attach more and more importance to their responsibility.

They are active in panel discussions. And they have raised 890 motions to this year's session, which is taking place this month in Beijing. Their motions include measures to combat corruption and develop the west.

The elected NPC deputies may submit proposals on government programmes and court operations. If the full NPC later turns a proposal into law, the affected branches of government must follow it.

A provincial-level delegation of NPC deputies or any group of at least 30 deputies may put forward a motion. Other proposals are taken as suggestions.

Zhang said about a third of his 48 motions have turned into laws and regulations.

Zhang's motions have already helped formulate the Securities Law, the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly and the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Consumers.

Deputy Luo Yifeng, of Beijing, said government departments have handled 80 per cent of his 100-odd motions and suggestions. He said 70 per cent of his ideas have helped settle national problems.

Luo, who is Indonesian Chinese, has been an NPC deputy for 12 years. Every year he visits 500 people, from government bureau directors to laid-off workers, to hear their opinions.

"The matters that people care about range from corruption, social security and education to the development of high technology," he said.

And in 1996, Luo made a proposal on using unleaded gasoline to reduce environment pollution.

"That proposal was not made so easily," Luo said.After doing what he calls thorough research, he made a suggestion leading to a ban on leaded oil in the capital. The 1998 Beijing ban was extended to the rest of China last year.(China Daily)