The secretariat of the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) recently made 22 rules to help guarantee proper conduct and efficiency during the annual session, China Youth Daily reported on March 4.

“All NPC deputies, non-voting delegates, bystanders, and on-site service staff shall not take mobile phones or photographic equipment to the plenary session,” said the presider of the Guangdong delegation, while announcing the secretariat’s requirements for deputies at a plenary meeting of the Guangdong delegation prior to the annual session.

Mobile phones are gathered in dozens of boxes placed in the hallway outside the meeting rooms, as “use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited inside the auditoriums of the Great Hall of the People under any circumstance.”

Abstention from voting will be regarded as failing to perform one’s legal duty, said presider of the Guangdong delegation, adding that except for cases including falling ill, participating in relevant activities of the central authorities, and taking part in disaster relief or emergency rescue, deputies are not allowed to request leave.

The Guangdong delegation has also made clear requirements in other areas, including no flowers and plants in the conference halls, and the stipulation that deputies should finish their remarks in 10 minutes and make no general statements or statements irrelevant to the theme of the conference.

Deputies are also required to leave more space and time for grass-roots deputies when talking to the media.

All NPC deputies are required to eat the buffet on offer at the venue, and are strictly prohibited from eating out or going to dinner parties.

Deputies at the session are not allowed to give or receive presents, souvenirs, or local and exclusive products.

On-site service staff cannot provide unnecessary services for participants of the session, and no e-commerce or express delivery services are allowed at the venue.

From March 4 to 14, various delegations to the second session of the 13th NPC are required to report the conduct of deputies to the secretariat of the session before 6 p.m.