Draft law aims to create breakthroughs for special zones

 

Hanoi (VNA) – A draft law on special administrative-economic zones has been adjusted based on feedback with the aim of creating a new development model that will bring breakthroughs to the zones.

At a meeting on April 4 to review items to be submitted to the fifth plenary session of the 14th National Assembly, lawmakers heard that many changes to several contents of the draft law including planning, special mechanisms and policies on socio-economic development, and organization of a special zone’s government.

Most National Assembly deputies agreed the revision was a positive step to boost the development of special administrative-economic zones, including Van Don, Bac Van Phong and Phu Quoc.

In the morning session, one of the hottest discussions focused on whether to establish a counselling committee for special administrative zones.

According to the draft, State management of the special administrative zone’s People’s Committee, especially in ensuring that tasks given by ministries and agencies are completed, would be exerted via this counselling committee, which would be formed by the Prime Minister.

However, NA deputies expressed concerns that with high autonomy being the special administrative zone’s raison d’etre, this committee would slow the operation of the special zone’s authorities, and that more agencies is against the Government’s efforts to streamline administrative procedures.

Deputy To Van Tam from the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum said it is not necessary to form the counselling committee as it will ease the proactiveness of the People’s Committee of the special zone and its Chairman.

However, deputy Hoang Quang Ham from the northern province of Phu Tho said the establishment of the counselling committee is a new way to supervise and balance power when these special zones are granted huge power.

Regarding land use term, according to deputy Pham Thi Thu Trang from Quang Ngai province, currently the land law only provides for a maximum of 70-year term without mentioning any exceptions, permission to grant a 99-year land lease to ‘special projects’ in special administrative zones must be clarified and its impacts be assessed.-VNA