Officials of the 11th National People's Congress and its Standing Committee held a press conference on Saturday afternoon. During questions relating to the NPC's work in the past five years, they admitted that some of the measures taken to implement environmental laws in the past have been inadequate.

The press conference has been held on quite a sandstormy day here in the capital. While meeting with the press, officials admitted that implementation of laws on environmental protection had encountered many problems and that the results have been unsatisfactory.

Xin Chunying, vice chairwoman of 11th NPC's Legislative Affairs Commission, said, "The country has enacted more than 30 laws related to the environment since the late 1980s. Implementation of the laws on environmental protection has encountered the most difficulties, and the result has been rather inadequate."

Xin says two factors have contributed to that result. Such environmental laws were made a long time ago and so some are no longer adequate for dealing with newly emerging pollution problems. Also some enterprises are evading their social responsibility.

Top legislator, Wu Bangguo, delivered an NPC work report yesterday, in which it stated that over the next five years one of the legislature's main tasks will be to continue to deliberate the draft revisions to China's Environmental Protection Law. A draft amendment to the law was submitted to lawmakers for the first time in August last year. It highlights government responsibility in that area, requiring it to regularly report to the legislature on the implementation of environmental protection measures, as well as environmental conditions and the occurrence of incidents of severe pollution.

Xin Chunying said, "After the first deliberation of the draft amendment in August, we also solicited public opinion. We've listened to the criticisms and the very constructive suggestions. But mostly we've heard many concerned voices from the public."

Xin says future legislation work will be carried out under greater public supervision.