China to amend law to curb land expropriation

China's top legislature will deliberate on draft amendments to laws on land management and trademarks during its bimonthly session, it was decided on Friday.

It will also discuss a draft decision to strengthen Internet information protection, although no details were provided.

The session will be convened by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee from Dec. 24 to 28 in Beijing, according to a decision made at a Friday meeting of the chairman and vice chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee.

The meeting was presided over by top legislator Wu Bangguo.

The Land Management Law, passed by the top legislature in 1986, was revised twice in 1998 and 2004, respectively.

The upcoming draft law amendment, submitted by the State Council, aims to address the outstanding problem of excessive land expropriation.

The draft, passed at a cabinet meeting last month, proposes altering rules on how to compensate farmers whose collectively owned land is expropriated.

Compensation for farmers' expropriated land is expected to rise if the draft amendment is adopted by lawmakers.

Rural stability and grain supply security face a number of challenges due to excessive land expropriation, the State Council said, vowing stricter regulation on farmland expropriation.

Protests by farmers over land seizures have erupted in villages across the country in recent years, prompting calls for better protection of farmers' property rights.

In a report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last month, Hu Jintao pressed for reforms for the land expropriation system and increasing farmers' share of gains in land value.

Meanwhile, a draft resolution regarding the State Council's authorization for the temporary adjustment of administrative approval of some laws and regulations in south China's Guangdong Province will be adopted at the legislative session.

Lawmakers will continue to discuss a draft revision to the Law on Securities Investment Funds, which was deliberated on for the third time. Generally, a bill will be adopted by the top legislature after two or three readings.

In the wake of an increasing elderly population, legislators will also deliberate on a draft revision to a law that protects senior citizens' rights and interests for the second time after the first reading in June.

They will also discuss a draft amendment to the Labor Contract Law and the draft law on tourism for a second time after their first readings in June and August, respectively.

Certain clauses of the Agriculture Law will be revised at the session.

A proposal on candidates for the electoral committee of the People's Liberation Army, submitted by the Central Military Commission, is expected to be approved.

In addition, the session will adopt a draft resolution on convening the first annual session of the 12th NPC early next year.

The agenda will also include deliberations on State Council reports on land management and mineral resources' exploitation, utilization and protection.

Also tabled for reading are the Supreme People's Court's report on trials concerning intellectual property, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate's report on civil administrative procuratorial work.

Reports on the implementation of the Agriculture Law and the law promoting small and medium-sized enterprises will be discussed.

The session will also deliberate on official appointments and dismissals.