VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly Standing Committee members yesterday, March 12, discussed the revised Law on Notary, in which many agreed that notary officers must be responsible for the content of translated documents.

Quang Ninh Province Police officers conduct household registrations and make identity cards for local residents. In addition to the revised Law on Notary, National Assembly deputies also discussed the management of citizen ID cards at the session on Wednesday, March 12.

Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong said that translating businesses and activities are not managed under regulations, prompting the need to add that notary officers and translators must be responsible for their translated content.

The Notary Law came into effect in 2008, which allowed, for the first time, for members of the private sector to engage in notary work.

The NA members also agreed that notary officers can notarise translated documents, signatures, and photocopied documents, similar to notarising by Government administrative offices, as stated in Decree 79 issued in 2007, which differentiates between notary requirements of judicial offices at the district, ward and commune levels, thus reducing the workload and allowing for carrying out more professional administrative procedures.

Most also agreed that notary officers can work until age 65. However, those who work at State-owned notary offices can retire at age 60 for men and 55 for women, as regulated for State officers, but are still entitled to work in private notary offices.

A private notary office must have at least two notary officers but, in remote areas, a notary officer can open his or her own office.

Citizens' identification

Yesterday morning, the deputies also discussed a draft law, which includes five chapters and 34 articles with new regulations on citizens' identification, such as the management of citizen's IDs, citizen rights and duties concerning their IDs, the responsibility of citizen's ID management agencies and banned behaviors.

In response to some opinions suggesting the naming of the law as the Law on People's Proof, instead of the draft Law on Citizens' Identification, Chairman of the NA Law Committee Phan Trung Ly said that the management of citizens' identification was a professional activity serving the State management on security.

He also added that it was separate from people's ID cards, as it would cover all personal information, including social and health insurance cards, personal income tax codes and driving licenses, instead of only the basic information currently listed on the ID card.

"The citizens' identification combines all information to define a person and is the content on the ID card," Ly said, adding that the ID card was the document which represented the form of citizens' identification.

"The name of Law on Citizens' Identification, as a result, is suitable and it was approved by the National Assembly in its resolution on the law making programme for 2014," he said.

NA deputies asked the Government to clarify the issuing of the current 9-digit ID card and the ongoing issuing of the new 12-digit national identity card, which is expected to replace old cards by 2020.

They also asked about the development of digitalisation of citizen's ID cards, to reduce the paperwork for people in dealing with administrative procedures relating to birth certification, household registrations, ID cards, passports, personal income tax, social insurance and driving licenses.

Also, NA Deputy Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan asked the compiling board to consider the regulation that the "ID card is the only authorised document of proof for those from age 15", saying that if the regulation took effect, others cards being used as an equivalent, such as passports, military and security ID cards, public and civil servant ID cards, and student ID cards, would become useless.

The law is expected to be approved at the coming National Assembly session.

Earlier on Tuesday, the NA deputies agreed to supplement over VND18 trillion (US$846 million) sourced from Government bonds in 2014-16 to 82 projects.

The projects were earlier reviewed by ministries and local authorities.

NA Deputy Chairwoman Ngan said this was necessary to ensure that localities strictly implement resolutions on cutting investments to inefficient projects.

According to Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh, 91 projects would be put under review, including 36 in transport, 35 in irrigation, and 20 in health care, that were implemented by two ministries and 23 cities and provinces. They are scheduled to be completed in 2014 and 2015.

National Assembly set for seventh session

The 13th National Assembly (NA) will convene its seventh session in Ha Noi on May 20 to pass 10 laws and two resolutions.

This was revealed at a meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Tuesday.

During the 29-day sitting, law-makers will also comment on 18 draft laws and devote nearly three days to question-and-answer sessions.

At this session, the NA will not conduct votes of confidence. Instead, it will discuss a draft resolution on the amendments and supplements to Resolution No.35/2012/QH13 on votes of confidence on positions approved by the National Assembly or People's Councils.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung asked NA bodies to prepare additional reports on external affairs, the negotiations and signing of economic and trade deals, and constitutional enforcement for submission.

Source: VNS