At a one-and-half-day Seminar on "Citizen Participation in Guangzhou's Lawmaking Process", staged in Guangzhou, expert scholars from the Chinese Law Center of Yale University and administrative law experts from institutions of higher education in China carried on heated debates on the subject.

The participants discussed the issue of public participation in administrative lawmaking practice, public participation options, the methods of receiving, considering and responding to public opinion, the establishment and perfection of a recording system for administrative lawmaking and ways in which the "Order of Citizen Participation in Guangzhou's Lawmaking" could be implemented. It is believed that the Order will greatly increase citizen participation in the lawmaking process, including Guangzhou's official website and newspapers. And, the authorities will make every effort to ensure that information is available in important places for those that are not familiar with using the Internet.

Nell Eisner, a US expert, informed seminar participants that US lawmaking institutions usually make a list on the internet to encourage the public to participate in the lawmaking process. A citizen who wishes to participate in the process registers with the website and the related authorities will send mail to the registered citizen when there is a new lawmaking plan or new opinions or comments on old versions. US experts also suggest that Government make awards to citizens who actively participate in the lawmaking process

Editor: Yan