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BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Upholding China's Constitution and bearing allegiance to the country are "the most fundamental requirements" for lawmakers, a legislative official said Thursday.
"Can we imagine parliamentary members or civil servants in any country do not uphold the constitution of their country, or bear no allegiance to their country?" said Zhang Rongshun, vice chairman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.
Zhang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual NPC session, while responding to a question on the draft methods for electing NPC deputies from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.
The draft methods were submitted to the national legislature on Wednesday for examination.
The drafts state that NPC deputy candidates from Hong Kong and Macao shall declare in the Participant's Registration Form that they uphold the Chinese Constitution and bear allegiance to China.
According to the drafts, a supervisory mechanism over the qualification of NPC deputies is also improved. If any NPC deputy violates the declaration in the form, the credentials committee shall make a report to the NPC Standing Committee and propose the disqualification of the deputy in question.
Zhang explained that NPC deputies will not be disqualified at will. To work out such a decision, the NPC Standing Committee will run a thorough investigation and obtain substantial proof whether a deputy is not upholding the Constitution or not allegiant to the country.
"The procedure is very strict," Zhang said.
The number of seats on the 13th NPC allocated to Hong Kong and Macao are 36 and 12 respectively, the same as the current 12th NPC.
