Constitution protects private property CHINA'S top legislature, the National People's Congress, adopted amendments to the Constitution yesterday with an overwhelming majority of 2,863 votes in favor before closing its 10-day annual session.

The legislators attending the closing meeting of the NPC session cast their votes through secret ballot, which was televised live by state television and radio stations.

The amendments to the Constitution consist of 14 revisions, with the most prominent parts highlighting the respect for and protection of human rights and the protection of lawful private property.

"The amendments to the Constitution represent the common aspirations of the Communist Party of China and the people of all nationalities in the country," said Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, after the amendments were adopted.

"We should make the endorsement of the amendments an opportunity to publicize the constitution for the whole society, especially officials at all levels and government functionaries, to study it, keep it in mind, safeguard its authority and guarantee it is implemented validly," Wu said.

The amendments were the fourth to China's Constitution, which contains 138 articles. The previous three revisions, made in 1988, 1993 and 1999 respectively, also highlighted the growth of market economy.

At least three subjects that used to be off-limits to Chinese society come in the spotlight after the constitutional amendments. They are private property protection, respect for and protection of human rights, and encouragement of non-public sectors.

To incorporate people from new social strata other than workers, peasants and intellectuals as "builders of socialism" into the Constitution "will benefit the capital accumulation of the non-public sectors," said Peng Zhenqiu, a member of the NPC and vice president of the Shanghai Socialist Academy.

Other major points of the amendments include the institution of the guiding role of the "Three Represents" important thought in the national political and social life, expressions of coordinated development of material civilization and political and cultural progress, and improvement of the land expropriation system.

"There were just a few changes in the Constitution, but they mean so much to people like me from the rural areas," said Rong Jie, a farmer-turned cobbler.

Rong came from the eastern province of Anhui to Beijing a dozen years ago in search of his fortune. Now Rong and his family live in a luxury apartment in downtown Beijing, which he bought for nearly US$100,000.

Later yesterday, legislators approved Premier Wen Jiabao's government work report after their demand the government improve its style of work had been incorporated into the final version of the report. The State Council, headed by Premier Wen, has made 19 amendments to the report after repeated deliberations of the views and proposals of lawmakers and government advisors.