Hanoi,  (VNA) – Contentious contents in the draft law on the specialadministrative-economic units of Van Don, Bac Van Phong and Phu Quoc were thecentre of discussions among National Assembly deputies on May 23 morning.

Most deputies agreed to the need to promulgate the law for the timely institutionalizationof Party resolutions and the 2013 Constitution, creating superior andbreakthrough mechanisms and policies to stimulate the growth of not only thethree special administrative-economic units but also the provinces where thethree units are based and the entire country.

The organisation and operation of local administrations and other Stateagencies at the special zones attracted the attention of many deputies.  

Several deputies called for further consideration of a stipulation inthe draft law that gives courts of the special zones similar jurisdiction asdistrict courts, and petitions related to administrative decisions and acts ofthe special zones’ People’s Committees and People’s Committee Chairmen will behandled by provincial courts.

Deputy Nguyen Thi Thuy of Bac Kan province argued that under thestipulation, special zones’ courts are authorized to handle many complicatedcivilian cases including those related to seizing foreign airplanes, but do nothave jurisdiction over administrative cases related to the special zones’People’s Committees and People’s Committee Chairmen that are at the same administrativelevel.

She also noted that while the special zones’ People’s Committees andPeople’s Committee Chairmen are given great power with 44 types of jurisdictionat provincial level, 21 at ministerial level and eight of the Prime Minister,it is not reasonable that the justice organ of the special zones does not havethe jurisdiction to handle administrative cases related to the special zones’People’s Committees and People’s Committee Chairmen.

The deputies proposed that the justice organ of the special zones shouldbe authorized to deal with administrative cases related to the special zones’People’s Committees and People’s Committee Chairmen.

The model of administration for the special zones as stipulated in thedraft law won the approval of most deputies.  

Specifically, the People’s Council of a special zone will have no morethan 15 deputies with a majority being full-time deputies and without anystanding board or supporting units. The People’s Committee will have only oneChairman and two Vice Chairmen. The People’s Council and People’s Committee ofa special zone will share a supporting office and specialised units (not morethan seven).

However, deputy Nguyen Ngoc Phuong of Quang Binh province asked toreduce the number of papers that require the Chairman of the People’s Committeeto sign.

Deputy Vu Thi Luu Mai of Hanoi urged re-considering the stipulation thatthe Chairman of the People’s Committee of a special zone is authorized toapprove investment projects belonging to Category A. She said those projects atpresent must go through many layers of verification and assessment as they beargreat significance to the national economy and security-defence. Caution shouldbe taken when giving such power to an individual, she said.

Stipulations on special mechanisms and policies for investment andbusiness activities in the special zones, and investment incentives were alsodebated at the session.-VNA