The Religious Affairs Provisions, promulgated on November 30
with the approval of Premier Wen
Jiabao, will formally come into force on March 1,
2005.??
The provisions, a set of comprehensive administrative rules
concerning China's religious affairs, explicitly specify that the
legitimate rights of religious groups, religious sites and
religious people are protected. They also offer guidance on
religious affairs involving state and public interests.
The rules are regarded as a significant step forward in the
protection of Chinese citizens' religious freedom.
China had two earlier provisions issued by the State Council in
1994 on the management of sites for religious activities and on
foreign nationals' religious activities in China. The new
provisions will supersede the former.
The new provisions are designed to deal with new situations and
issues that have emerged in recent years with China's rapid
socioeconomic development.
The drafting of the provisions has taken six full years, taking
into account views and suggestions from people in law, religion and
human rights.
With the Religious Affairs Provisions coming into force, the
early provisions issued by the State Council on the management of
sites for religious activities in 1994 will simultaneously be
abolished, whereas the provisions on foreign nationals' religious
activities in China issued in the same year remain valid.
(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2004)