Set up an advisory board to control power in special economic zones?
The draft law on special economic administrative units is designed with an Advisory Board to support the development of special zones. However, many National Assembly deputies disagree.
This morning (April 4), the National Assembly Standing Committee held a conference of full-time National Assembly deputies to discuss the draft Law on Special Economic Zones of Van Don, Bac Van Phong, and Phu Quoc. The revised draft consists of 6 chapters, 88 articles, and 6 appendices. One of the contents that received many opinions was the organization of local government levels and whether or not there should be an Advisory Board to support the development of special economic zones.
Presenting the report on receiving and revising the draft law, Chairman of the Law Committee Nguyen Khac Dinh said that the revised model of local government organization in the special economic zone ensures compliance with the provisions of the Constitution, the conclusions of the Central Conference and the direction of the Politburo.
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| Chairman of the Law Committee Nguyen Khac Dinh. |
To strengthen control over the activities of local government agencies in special zones, especially in performing the tasks and powers of superior state agencies assigned by this law to the Chairman of the People's Committee of special zones, the draft law supplements regulations on establishing a special control mechanism of the Central Government located in each special zone through the Advisory Board for Special Zone Development Support established by the Prime Minister.
Mr. Nguyen Khac Dinh also added that the functions, tasks and activities of this Committee do not overlap with the advisory and assistance functions of specialized agencies under the special zone government, the supervisory function of the special zone People's Council as well as the direction of the National Steering Committee on the construction of HCKTDB units.
“The addition of this mechanism is also to absorb the experience of other countries to test a new, specific method of controlling power, commensurate with the superior authority of local authorities in special economic zones,” said Mr. Nguyen Khac Dinh, adding that there are opinions that the establishment of a new organization such as the Advisory Board to support the development of special economic zones is not consistent with the policy of streamlining the apparatus and reducing staff according to Resolution 6 of the 12th Central Committee.
Citing the regulations on the organizational structure and authority of the Advisory Board, supporting the development of the special economic zone as well as the responsibilities and obligations of the Chairman of the People's Committee and the People's Committee of the special economic zone, delegate To Van Tam - Deputy Head of the specialized delegation of the National Assembly Delegation of Kon Tum province said that a series of issues requiring consultation with this Board before making a decision were inappropriate.
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| Delegate To Van Tam: It is not necessary to have an Advisory Board to support the development of special economic zones. |
“Now that there is a government level, supervision comes from the People's Council, the provincial level, the National Assembly, socio-political organizations... If we add a special economic zone development support advisory board, it will invisibly reduce the initiative and create more constraints for the People's Committee and the Chairman of the People's Committee. Therefore, there is no need for this board,” said Mr. To Van Tam.
Delegate Do Thi Lan - Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Ninh province also expressed her disagreement with the regulations on the Advisory Board to support the development of the special economic zone. For example, if the Chairman of the People's Committee of the special economic zone does not agree with the opinion of the Advisory Board, he must explain in writing the reasons. This is a step that may delay and delay the implementation of the tasks of the Chairman of the People's Committee and the People's Committee of the special economic zone.
Furthermore, organizing the Board within the special economic administrative unit is not in line with the Central Government's policy on streamlining the organizational apparatus and does not create conditions for promoting the effectiveness of the People's Committee and the Chairman of the People's Committee of the special economic zone. Therefore, delegate Do Thi Lan proposed not to organize the Advisory Board to support the development of special economic zones in the special economic zones.
Expressing a different view, delegate Hoang Quang Ham - Standing Member of the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly, said that the establishment of the Development Support Advisory Board is a new way to monitor and balance power when the authority given to special revenues is very large. Accordingly, major issues need to be consulted with this Board, to avoid the situation of just doing things and then when violations occur, dealing with officials.
"In case the People's Committee does not agree with the opinion of the Development Support Advisory Board, there will be a written explanation to ensure the monitoring of the superior agency. If necessary, the superior agency will directly intervene to avoid consequences" - delegate Hoang Quang Ham expressed his opinion./.
The draft law stipulates the organization of local government levels (including the People's Council and the People's Committee, and no special zone chief). Many opinions expressed their agreement and emphasized that this is in accordance with the Constitution. The number of delegates to the special zone People's Council not exceeding 15 people also reflects the view of a streamlined organization. However, according to the delegates, there should be specific regulations on the ratio of full-time delegates or the number of full-time delegates.
