Top Legislature Reviews Law Knowledge Publicity ProjectChina's top lawmakers Tuesday reviewed a five-year program (2001-2005) to publicize knowledge of the law nationwide submitted by the State Council.The program is the fourth five-year program China has launched to improve the public's awareness of the law since 1986. The program aims to promote a lifestyle which will encourage people to voluntarily obey the law and seek legal assistance to cope with their problems, rather than simply providing them with knowledge of the law, said Zhang Fusen, minister of justice, in a report to the 21st session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress. According to the program, every citizen with a modicum of education is expected to participate in the program, especially government officials, judicial staff, managers and teenagers. The past three five-year programs had a positive effect on raising the legal awareness of the general public, said Zhang. Chinese courts at all levels have handled 500,000 cases with administrations as defendants since the Administrative Procedure Law was adopted in 1989. In addition, knowledge of the law has become part of the examinations for government officials and one of the qualifications they need for promotion. |
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