SPC delegate suggestions focus on law

Delegates put forward more legislative proposals than ever at this year's Shanghai People's Congress (SPC), according to figures that the SPC's proposal division released Wednesday.

"Generally, legislative proposals make up 30 percent to 33 percent of the total number of proposals. This year, we received 45 legislative proposals, which account for 44 percent of the total," Zhang Zhen, press officer from the SPC's proposal division.

Wednesday was the last day delegates could introduce new proposals. The increase indicates that delegates are taking a greater interest in developing the city's legal system.

The legislative proposals addressed issues such as family planning, mental health, emergency medical services and wetland protection, according the proposal division.

Delegates also put forward proposals that suggested drafting regulations regarding the auditing and management of the municipal government's budget and government investment projects to make the government more accountable and prevent abuse of power, Zhang said.

The delegates also focused on the renovation of older residential areas. There were 173 delegates who helped draft proposals on the issue, the most ever, Zhang said.

"The figure shows that it is a really important issue, involving the interests of many local residents, and it needs to be urgently addressed by the government," Zhang said.

Newly elected delegate also put forward more proposals than veteran delegates this year, said Gu Ping, a press officer with the proposal division. Of the 864 delegates invited to the SPC this year, 534 were newly elected, Gu said.