NPC members hail equal representation, facing new task

Members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress have hailed an amendment to the Election law, where rural and urban residents have equal representation in the People's Congress. But how to implement the amendments has become an issue.

Disputes exist among the NPC Standing Committee Members on how to distribute representation for migrating people, especially those who have left their permanent registered residence, and settled down elsewhere.

According to records for permanent registered residences, the rural population is more than 8 hundred million. But more than a hundred million have left their homes to become migrant workers.

Ren Guangtao, member of NPC Standing Committee, said, "We have to admit there are many drawbacks in the current system of personal registration. But, considering the sincerity of elections, quotas for candidates should be prescribed according to the voters' registered residence."

Xu Zhiqin said, "Very few migrant people would be willing to go back home just to vote. So it would be more reasonable to choose candidates on the basis of the actual amount of residents in a certain place."

The Draft Law of Island Protection, was also considered during Friday morning's panel discussion.

Members suggested that uninhabited islands should be under the administration of the State Council, rather than local authorities.

The Draft Law prescribes 20 years for the Island Development plan. Some Members have suggested a shorter timeframe, while others have said it should be longer.

Members also stressed that the development of islands should be as equally important as their ecological protection.