CONSUL GENERAL'S INITIAL MEETING WITH LIU YUNGENG, CHAIR OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SHANGHAI 000460

SIPDIS

NSC FOR LOI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2028
TAGS: PGOV PINR ECON CH
SUBJECT: CONSUL GENERAL'S INITIAL MEETING WITH LIU YUNGENG, CHAIR OF
THE SHANGHAI MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS

REF: SHANGHAI 328

CLASSIFIED BY: Beatrice A. Camp, Consul General, U.S. Consulate
General, Shanghai, China, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) Summary: In an October 24 meeting with the Consul
General, Shanghai Municipal People's Congress (MPC) Chair Liu
Yungeng discussed the MPC's efforts to improve transparency in
its legislative process. Liu said ordinary citizens can observe
some MPC meetings and voice concerns directly through a special
MPC office. He highlighted recent cases in which the Shanghai
Government addressed public concerns about social security and
resettlement issues. End summary.


2. (U) On October 24, Consul General Camp paid a courtesy call
on MPC Chairman Liu Yungeng. Liu was accompanied by Yao
Mingbao, Secretary General of the SMPC Standing Committee, Xu
Yi, Deputy Director of MPC General Office, and several officials
from the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office.

MPC Responsibilities
--------------

3. (U) Liu explained that there are 860 delegates in the
Shanghai Municipal People's Congress (MPC),of which 65 are
Standing Committee members. The MPC has three responsibilities:
passing legislation, supervising government bodies, and
nominating/dismissing government officials. The 860 delegates
are drawn from different professions, social and ethnic groups,
and help the government better understand Shanghai citizens'
concerns, said Liu.


Standing Committee Meeting
--------------

4. (U) According to Liu, the MPC Standing Committee meets every
two months to draft laws and enact personnel changes. It held
its most recent meeting October 21-23, in which laws on
compulsory education and promotion of e-commerce were reviewed.
At that session, Shanghai High Court President Ying Yong also
reported on a new administrative procedure law, in which
ordinary citizens would have the right to sue the local
government.


Efforts at Democracy, Transparency
--------------

5. (U) Liu talked about the MPC's efforts to improve its
democratic procedures. Voting is now carried out through an
"anonymous electronic voting system." At Plenary Sessions (the
next one to be held in early 2009),the 860 delegates can put
forward legislative proposals individually or in groups. All
joint proposals supported by at least ten delegates receive
"legally binding status", meaning the government "needs to
consider them seriously." The MPC also invites ordinary
citizens to observe meetings and even provides online video
broadcasts of some meetings.

Shanghai Government Listening to its People
--------------

6. (C) The CG asked how ordinary citizens can bring issues of
concern directly to the MPC's attention. Liu responded that the
MPC has an office that receives and handles letters from
citizens. He personally reads many of these letters himself.
The MPC makes recommendations to the Shanghai Municipal
Government for the handling of common public-interest issues.
Liu gave, as examples, concerns about Shanghai's aging
population and the welfare of elderly citizens, especially
migrants who have little to no social security. Liu said the
Shanghai Government passed legislation to provide living
allowances and subsidies for elderly citizens over the age of
70, and that the government will implement more social benefits
like this in the future. But he also acknowledged that "not all
problems can be solved quickly." As an example, he talked about
the urban construction resettlement issue and residents' demands
for "high resettlement fees" from the government, which,
according to Liu, cannot afford to pay such exorbitant fees.
When asked by the CG whether the MPC had addressed citizen
concerns about the recent contaminated milk scandal, Liu blandly
asserted that the government's initiatives were widely covered
by the media, and offered to provide the CG with media reports
on the issue.


SHANGHAI 00000460 002 OF 002


Comment
--------------

7. (C) Liu has held his position less than a year, but appeared
at ease discussing the MPC's role and work, and did not rely on
notes or his aides. Although he evaded the CG's question about
the recent milk scandal, he was frank in discussing other social
issues currently facing the local government and tried to
emphasize the government's efforts to improve its transparency.
Despite an opening to do so, Liu did not discuss the ongoing
reorganization of the Shanghai Government. Liu does not appear
to speak English, though he stated he recently read a book about
the U.S. Congress and noted "there is room for improvement" in
the U.S. legislative process as well.
CAMP