Lawyer wants disclosure of officials' assets

Han Deyun started his law career in 1994, the year when China began to allow private law firms to operate, after quitting his teaching job at a law university in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality.[Special coverage]

"Thanks to the reform and opening-up policy, I had the chance to become a professional lawyer," said Han.

After setting up a law firm, he focused on disputes involving foreign trade, a growing industry as China went global.

"Lawyer should be the 'navigator' who guides people away from reefs," Han said on the idea behind running a law firm. "We don't expect to profit from disputes, we provide consultancy services to prevent disputes from happening."

Thanks to this concept, his company established its reputation among foreign trade companies in Chongqing.

In 2000, Han Deyun's law firm became the first in Chongqing to take part in the drafting of a local law as the government tried to improve the legislation mechanism by allowing more professional forces from the private sector to participate in the process.

That expanded his influence in the circle, and helped him get elected as deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, in 2003. That role gave him an opportunity to speak on behalf of other lawyers.

With the change in roles, Han had to balance his work and the role as a NPC delegate, which, unlike its counterparts in some countries, is a part-time duty in China.

"As an experienced business lawyer, I have good income. But now that I am a deputy, I have to fulfill my duties. Sometimes, it means putting aside my work and focusing on people's concerns," Han said.

Since becoming NPC deputy, Han has presented more than 300 proposals and motions, covering food safety, medical dispute, and rights of migrant workers.

But one that attracted the most attention concerned the disclosure of civil servants' assets.

In 2005, Han called for the promulgation of a law on disclosure of public servants' property in a motion jointly signed by 30 national legislators.

"To open the assets of government employees to the public is an important way to prevent corruption," said Han.

Over the next six years, he presented the same motion to the NPC Standing Committee every time he attended the annual NPC session.

His efforts finally bore fruit, although a limited one, in 2012 after the Central Committee of Discipline Inspection, the country's top anti-graft organization, promised to step up the disclosure of officials' assets to the public.

"Although the law has not yet been introduced, I have seen the Party and the government taking a stricter attitude to declaration of assets of government officials," said Han Deyun.

"It needs long-term efforts to achieve full transparency. But I'm glad to see the positive changes which have been made."