Draft general rules to protect civil rights

The latest draft of the General Rules of Civil Law submitted to China's top legislature Monday has extra clauses to protect civil rights.

The draft, submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for a third reading, stipulates that civil subjects can exercise their rights according to their own will and without interference.

After the levying and requisition of real estate and personal property in the public interest, civil subjects should be justly and appropriately compensated, according to the draft.

Good Samaritans shall not bear civil responsibilities if their emergency rescue behavior leads to those being helped suffering losses, except in cases of gross negligence.

The draft general rules of the Civil Law stipulate that the civil affairs departments, and neighborhood or village committees should assume guardianship if no one is qualified to do so.

Civil subjects should save resources, protect ecology, and promote the excellent Chinese culture and core socialist values while exercising their civil rights, according to the draft.

The legislation of general rules is the first step for China to establish civil code. The legislature expects to integrate separate existing civil laws into a code by 2020.

The draft general rules will be guiding principles of the civil law, and of great significance for protecting civil rights and maintaining social and economic stability, the NPC Law Committee said. Endi