The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, closed its legislative session Tuesday after completing its legislative agenda, including adopting a decision for the sixth Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to continue performing duties.

The NPC Standing Committee also adopted the law on urban maintenance and construction tax and the deed tax law. President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders to promulgate the laws.

Xi signed another presidential order awarding four persons the national medal and honorary title for their outstanding contribution to fighting the COVID-19 epidemic.

At the closing meeting, lawmakers passed a decision to appoint Xiao Yaqing as the new minister of industry and information technology, and Hu Heping the minister of culture and tourism. Xi signed a presidential order to remove and appoint the ministers based on the decision.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 21st session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

The closing meeting was presided over by Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, and attended by 164 NPC Standing Committee members.

The NPC Standing Committe's decision concerning arrangements handling the vacancy of the HKSAR LegCo has provided constitutional basis and legal guarantee for upholding the rule of law in Hong Kong and ensuring the normal governance of the HKSAR government and the orderly functioning of Hong Kong society, said Li.

At the closing meeting, legislators also adopted a decision to allow law practitioners in Hong Kong and practicing lawyers in Macao to qualify and work as lawyers in nine cities of Guangdong Province on the mainland on a trial basis.

Li said that the conferring of the national medal and honorary title on people who made outstanding contribution to the COVID-19 fight will encourage the Chinese people to make unremitting efforts to coordinate epidemic control and economic and social development so as to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

During the session, lawmakers deliberated a work report by the National Supervisory Commission on fugitive repatriation and return of criminal proceeds, a report on a research project for the compilation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and a report on the implementation of the decision on thoroughly banning the illegal trading of wildlife and eliminating the consumption of wild animals and the enforcement of the Wildlife Protection Law.

They also heard reports on implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and promoting the enforcement of the Law on the Progress of Science and Technology, and on the law enforcement of public security organs, among others.

Before the closing meeting, Li presided over a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 21st session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)