National Assembly deputies discussed the draft revised Law on Press and adopted a resolution on the implementation of bailiff institution during their plenary session in Hanoi on November 26.

Nineteen lawmakers raised their opinions on the press freedom right, the operation of press outlets and their representative offices, the State policy on press development and management, among others.

Under the chair of NA Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son, legislators heard a report acquiring feedback on the draft Law on professional military personnel and defence workers and officers delivered by head of the NA’s Committee on National Defence and Security Nguyen Kim Thoa.

They approved the full text of the Law afterward.

In the afternoon session guided by NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu, legislators passed a Resolution approving a Protocol amending the Marrakesh agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation.

They also gave approval of the Law on the organisation of criminal investigative agencies after hearing a report on collecting feedback on the law delivered by head of the NA’s Committee on Judicial Affairs Nguyen Van Hien.

Discussions on the draft Law on associations featured policies, criteria for establishing associations, the State management, among other aspects.

The NA is due to pass the revised Criminal Code, the Criminal Proceeding Code, a Resolution on preventing and controlling law violations and crimes, and activities of the People’s Procuracy and the People’s Courts as well as law enforcement for 2016.

The draft Laws on information access and pharmacy will be also up for debate.

The closing ceremony of the 13th National Assembly’s 10th session in the afternoon will be broadcast live.

Deputies urge healthy, effective development of press

Lawmakers have emphasised the need to create a suitable legal framework to reorganise the press system and facilitate the healthy and effective development of the press.

Discussing the draft Law on the Press (revised) at a November 26 sitting as part of the ongoing 10th session of the 13th National Assembly, the legislators agreed on the need to promulgate a new law as the existing one is no longer appropriate after 16 years of enforcement due to the rapid development of information technology and social networks.

The amendment will help realise the spirit and content of the 2013 Constitution on the right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press as well as fix shortcomings in the current law, they said.

They also mentioned contents and behaviours prohibited in press activities and provision of information for journalists.

On the day, lawmakers also adopted a resolution on exercising bailiff regulations under which the pilot implementation will terminate and the official exercise will begin on January 1, 2016.

The resolution assigned the Government to enforce bailiff regulations with adjustments and supplements if necessary on the basis of the situation of each locality and organisation in order to handle existing shortcomings.

Bailiff organisations, which were established under the Resolutions No.24/2008/QH12 and No.36/2012/QH12, will continue operation following the resolution’s regulations until a Law on Bailiff is promulgated.

At the sitting, National Assembly deputies also passed the Law on Professional Military Personnel and Defence Workers, which comprises seven chapters and 52 articles.

VNA