BEIJING: The Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, concluded its 23rd session Wednesday in Beijing.
Lawmakers voted to adopt a decision to amend the Copyright Law, and a law on support for veterans. President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders to promulgate the decision and the law.
At the closing meeting, lawmakers also voted to adopt a decision on the qualification of members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Two reports of the NPC’s environment and resources protection committee and agriculture and rural affairs committee were also approved at the meeting. The relevant reports contain deliberation outcomes of the proposals that were put forward by NPC deputies at the third session of the 13th NPC.
Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting of the session, attended by 161 members of the 13th NPC Standing Committee. Addressing the meeting, Li called for efforts to study, publicize and implement the newly adopted law on support for veterans to encourage more support and care for demobilized service personnel.
Speaking of the Copyright Law amendment, Li said legal weapons should be put into better use to enhance intellectual property rights protection and safeguard the entitlement of the creators, disseminators and users.
He also urged intensified law enforcement and punishment of infringement acts to provide a desirable legal environment for innovation and creation. Lauding the decision on HKSAR LegCo as an important legislation, Li said members of the NPC Standing Committee agreed during deliberation that the decision is necessary and appropriate.
Members of the HKSAR LegCo must uphold the HKSAR Basic Law and honor the pledge of allegiance to the HKSAR, Li said, adding that the decision is in line with the fundamental interests of all Chinese people including the Hong Kong compatriots.
– The Daily Mail-People’s Daily News exchange item
