Update | Beijing to change law to punish any person or group that harms image of Red Cross Society of China
Move comes after its public image was hit when a young woman, Guo Meimei, falsely claimed to work for charity while flaunting her luxury goods online in 2011
The National People’s Congress is overhauling the 23-year-old law on the Red Cross Society of China, vowing to punish any person or group that further smears the charity’s already tarnished image, mainland media report.
The revisions by the top legislative body come after a series of scandals in recent years undermined the reputation of the charity, which is not affiliated with the International Red Cross.
A draft amendment tabled on Monday sets out the legal responsibilities of the public and staff at China’s Red Cross, the mainland’s largest charitable organisation and a body with close ties with the government.
Any one who “fabricates, publishes and disseminates false information that smears the reputation of the Red Cross”, who “misappropriates or abuses the funds or assets of the Red Cross” or “pretends to be someone else, misuses or tampers with the name and label of the Red Cross” would receive administrative punishment, or even be subject to criminal law, The Beijing News reported.
The draft says the Red Cross should set up mechanisms to independently audit and monitor its funds and assets.