Wu Bangguo, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, gives a speech during the closing meeting of the 13th session of the 10th NPC Standing Committee on Dec. 29.

China's top legislature Wu Bangguo submitted on December 29 the draft law against secession to the third session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) to be held next March. The decision was adopted unanimously at the closing meeting of the 13th session of the NPC Standing Committee held here from Dec.25 to 29, which deliberated the draft law for the first time.

The 2004 closing session of the NPC Standing Committee adopted a resolution that the NPC will convene its third annual full session on March 5, 2005, in Beijing.

Wednesday's meeting passed the amendment to law on solid waste pollution prevention, which stipulates stricter clauses on solid waste disposal and clearer responsibilities of waste producers.

It also passed a judicial explanation of credit card law, which stipulates that all crimes involving bank cards should be treated by law as credit card crimes.

The meeting issued a bulletin announcing that five NPC deputies have been expelled from the top legislature for corruption. The total number of the NPC is 2,979, said the bulletin.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, issued letters of appointment to 10 members of the Basic Law Committee of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). Half of them are from Chinese mainland while the others are locals.

Wu reviewed the NPC's work regarding to legislation, supervision, service for deputies, foreign exchanges and self construction in the past year. He also pledged to make out the work plan of next year as soon as possible, including preparations for the upcoming full annual session early in 2005.

During the five-day session, the draft laws on civil servants, notary and renewable energy were deliberated, together with the draft resolution on management of expert testimony. The lawmakers also deliberated a report on rectifying and standardizing the order of the market economy, and a report on conservation, protection and rational use of water resources.