A law imposing new regulations on foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) was yesterday passed by the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, authorities said.
The measure has provoked an outcry from charities and concerns from foreign governments that it gives police wide-ranging discretionary powers amid a crackdown on civil society in the country.
At least 1,000 foreign NGOs are thought to operate in China, including development charities such as Save the Children, advocacy groups including Greenpeace, chambers of commerce and university centers.
Photo: EPA
The National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which acts as the parliament when the congress is not in full session, gave the law almost unanimous approval, with 147 votes in favor and only one against.
The full text was not immediately available, but a draft of the bill described by Xinhua news agency earlier this week carried many provisions that previously triggered concerns.
It covers foreign charities, business associations, academic institutions and others in China, and requires them to “partner” with a government-controlled agency and report their actions to authorities.
“There have been some foreign NGOs which have planned or carried out activities threatening the stability of society and national security,” National People’s Congress official Zhang Yong (張勇) said.
Police would have the right to cancel any activities they judged a threat to national security, and would be empowered to “invite for talks” the heads of foreign NGOs in China, Xinhua said.
It added that police could add any foreign NGO they judged to promote “subversion of state power” or “separatism” to a “not welcome list,” which would ban them from the country.
Overseas NGOs would also be forbidden from recruiting “members” in China, Xinhua said, barring special permission from the State Council.
Rights groups yesterday decried the law’s passage.
“The authorities — particularly the police — will have virtually unchecked powers to target NGOs, restrict their activities, and ultimately stifle civil society,” said William Nee (倪偉平), China researcher at Amnesty International.
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