Political advisors call for improvement to urban management

China's national political advisors called for improved legal and institutional arrangement for "chengguan", or urban management authority during a bi-weekly consultation session on Thursday.

According to a statement issued after the session, members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) agreed that the law enforcement practices of chengguan were not always standardized, or supported with proper legislations.

They suggested the review of relevant laws and regulations, standardizing procedures, the drafting of a code of conduct, supervision measures, as well as improving the way the public can lodge complaints.

The session was presided over by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Chengguan has been the subject of public ire for long, mostly because of the reckless conduct of its officers in some cases, but also because its operation is not based on clear legislation nor regulated by a national authority.

In December 2014, two urban management officers in central Hubei Province were removed from their posts for dragging an old man through the street. The man had been selling vegetables behind a van without an official permit. Enditem