Qianhai sets up evaluation for its legal system

Tan Yifan

cicitan2011@gmail.com

AN evaluation system designed to assess judicial innovation and the construction of a fair legal environment in the Qianhai and Shekou Pilot Free Trade Area has been set up, the authorities said at yesterday’s press conference in Qianhai.

The system, which was designed by the Center for the National Index of Rule of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, will help researchers, officials and the public better understand the performance of judicial bodies in the area, said the center. The project was commissioned by the Qianhai Authority.

The system is said to generate scores according to a certain index.

The highest score on the index will be 100, representing an ideal situation with every related judicial body operating close to perfection. The score generated by the index varies based on performance in five main criteria, namely, the design of rules and regulations (25 percent), law-abiding government (25 percent), judicial construction (25 percent), other legal resolutions (10 percent) and supervision (15 percent). The five indicators are made up of 19 sub-indicators and 60 micro indicators.

The system will calculate the final index score based on the indicators, including making rules and regulations, inviting public and third parties to participate in making rules, reviewing all related material and documents, law enforcement and supervision, responding on public requests and notary innovation.

Liu Xin, professor of the China University of Political Science and Law, said the system will “push civil servants to meet certain requirements and further supervise the judicial bodies and governments.”

In recent years, Qianhai has strived to provide more legal resolutions. The Qianhai Cooperation Zone People’s Court has hired Hong Kong professionals as jurors.