Fanny Law: Never Failing in Her Duty as NPC Deputy

Fanny Law has been a deputy to the National People's Congress for the past six years. [people.com.cn]

A retired Hong Kong official, Fanny Law has faithfully carried out her duties as a deputy to China's national legislative body, the National People's Congress (NPC) by proposing practical motions ever since she was elected in 2008.

Law held various high-ranking posts in Hong Kong, including Secretary for Education and Manpower, Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower and Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. She resigned from the latter post in 2007 following an inquiry into interference with academic freedom, which she was later cleared from.

Ahead of the NPC's 2014 session, Law shared her story of making proposals and carrying out duties in 2013.

NPC Deputy

In 2008, she was elected as NPC deputy. In the past year, the smog choking many of the mainland cities has become a hot issue. Concerned with the environmental problem, Law proposed improving the current the Law on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution by increasing punishment measures and information transparency, and limiting pollution emissions.

In response to her proposal, the Ministry of Environmental Protection promised to improve related laws and make clear the responsibilities of each level of governments, departments and companies emitting pollution. It said pollution emission controls would be expanded to all the country and the public would receive updates on related information.

The Office of the NPC Standing Committee classified her proposal as ‘Category B', meaning ‘the issue can be basically solved in three years.'

Law said every time she went to Beijing, she met with officials of the environmental ministry and received updates on their progress. "The ministry has a clear grasp of the issue and has set right goals," she said.

But she believes solving the issue is not only the government's responsibility, but also that of everyone and all of society. "The key is how disciplined one is," she said.

She used her hometown of Hong Kong, which also suffers from pollution, as an example. "In 2011, Hong Kong put an act into force requiring drivers to stop their engine when the car is not moving. Although most people follow the act, some bus drivers violate it when there are no police around," she said.

"So the key is to implement the law and ask people for self-discipline."

No Failing in Her Duty

It has been a routine for Hong Kong deputies to visit one of the mainland provinces to see its economic development. But Law believes they should do more than that by learning how the local government implements the central government's policies and what difficulties it has.

"The government has attached great importance to anti-corruption measures, environmental protection, reforms, and new methods of social management," Law said. "Visiting is not about sightseeing, but about carrying out supervising duties as deputies and learning about public opinion."

As an NPC deputy, Law has learned much about her work. "I want to be a deputy who can fulfill her duty. In the past six year, I have volunteered to learn about the real situation on the ‘front lines' and publicize my country's achievements to Hong Kong. I feel I have never failed to do my duty."

(Source: people.com.cn and wikipedia.org/Translated and edited by womenofchina.cn)