Roundup: Top legislature mulls draft laws on cybersecurity, nuclear safety

China's top legislature on Monday started its bimonthly session to review draft laws, amendments and bills, including a draft law on cybersecurity, a draft law on nuclear safety and an amendment to the surveying and mapping law.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presided over the opening meeting.

The draft cybersecurity law, tabled for a third reading, allows police and other law enforcers to take measures, including the freezing of assets, against overseas individuals or organizations that "attack, intrude, interfere with or sabotage the nation's key information infrastructure."

The new draft suggests better protective measures for important industries, including public communications and information services, energy, transportation, finance and e-government services.

A draft nuclear safety law was submitted to legislators for its first reading on Monday.

The draft specifies safety standards for nuclear facilities; emergency planning and response systems; and rules for information disclosure. It also details the responsibilities of staff and supervisory bodies, and sanctions for those who fail in their duties.

The top legislature is considering amending the surveying and mapping law to improve the management of China's geological data.

According to the revised draft, submitted for its first reading, sources of geological information must be better managed, adding that measures should be taken to better integrate the various sources of geological data and improve the way in which they are shared and used.

The top legislature is considering amending a 2003 law that supports small and medium-sized businesses, for the first time.

The draft aims to realize equal rights, rules and opportunities for all firms, offering favored tax policies and the easing of financing procedures for small and micro-businesses.

The top legislature is also considering amendments to 12 laws, including the law on foreign trade, with aims to streamline administrative approval in several fields.

Moreover, legislators are considering expanding the Red Cross societies' duties in the donation of stem cells and organs, and improving information transparency by amending the law on the Red Cross Society.

A draft law on the promotion of the film industry was submitted to legislators for a third reading, proposing harsher punishment for filmmakers who forge ticket earnings.

The top legislature continued to review the draft general rules of the civil code after a first reading in June, proposing to better protect citizens' personal information and improve the safeguarding of juvenile rights.

Draft amendments to the private education law, marine environment law, and law on ensuring public cultural service were also deliberated by legislators at the meeting.

Legislators also reviewed a bill on a China-Tajikistan extradition treaty, a bill on a judicial assistance treaty between China and Sri Lanka, and a bill on the adjustment of China's 2016 central budget.

A report on Zhang Dejiang's September visit to four countries -- Israel, Palestine, Finland and France -- and a report on reviewing the qualifications of certain NPC deputies were also deliberated. Endit