522 deputies opposed to setting up of special judicial committee

A special committee under the NPC received a high number of opposing votes from deputies yesterday when its membership was submitted for approval.

The Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee, headed by former deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Hou Zongbin, received 522 votes against and 255 abstentions from the 2,935 deputies present.

It was unusual for so many - 26 per cent - of NPC deputies to vote against the setting-up of the committee, which used to be a formality in the NPC session.

Some deputies said they disapproved of Mr Hou.

'He did not do his job well when he was with the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. He should be responsible for the rise in corruption. How can he be the head of this internal and judicial affairs committee,' a delegate from Shandong said.

Mr Hou also lost out on re-election to the NPC Standing Committee on Tuesday. Some 644 deputies voted against him - the second-highest negative vote.