China to advance household registration reforms

BEIJING - The Chinese government will push forward household registration and petition reforms this year, according to a national political and legal work conference held on Monday.

Reforms of the controversial re-education through labor system and the use of judicial power are also on the docket, according to the conference.

No further information on the reforms has been made available.

The re-education through labor system allows police to detain people for up to four years without an open trial, leading experts to argue that it contradicts high-level laws, including China's constitution.

The reform of the country's household registration system will "proceed steadily and orderly so that the majority of migrants can find their own proper place and live well in both cities and villages," according to a statement issued at the conference.

Strengthening the rule of law should be emphasized, as it is fundamental in maintaining clean governance, social equity and lasting stability, the statement said, adding that the judicial system should be "fair, efficient and authoritative."

The public's sense of security will be enhanced by improving the public security system, it said.

The conference also stressed management of the Internet and the need to severely crack down on cyber crimes.

Meng Jianzhu, secretary of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, warned judicial staff at the conference to resist corruption, maintain social equity and justice, and communicate better with the public in this Internet-dominated new media era.