appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

SCMP Reporter

A senior adviser to Beijing has appealed for China's constitution to be amended to introduce rights for private business ownership.

Jing Shuping, who heads the mainland's top private business association, has called for private ownership to be treated as 'sacred'.

His appeal follows calls by President Jiang Zemin for capitalists to be admitted to the Communist Party.

Mr Jing, chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, was quoted by China Daily  yesterday as saying he would make the proposal to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, of which he is a vice-chairman. The CPPCC is a top advisory body to the Communist Party.

He said that the legal changes should 'guarantee the absolute protection of all commercial assets and real estate in the private business sector'.

Mr Jing's federation represents 27 million private business owners on the mainland.

He claimed that the lack of legal protection has led to a flight of capital abroad and 'slackening of individual investment'.

Mr Jing has made similar calls before but his latest appeal came after Mr Jiang stated this month that wealth should not be used to decide a person's political qualification and whether he or she could join the ruling party.

Mr Jiang's comments were considered a significant boost to the private sector, which has played an increasingly important role in the national economy in recent years.

China Daily  yesterday led its front page with Mr Jing's suggestion, apparently indicating that top leaders were serious about making a change or seeking reaction to a serious proposal.

Cao Siyuan, a Beijing-based consultant who has lobbied for the recognition of private ownership for years, said yesterday the political climate was more favourable especially after Mr Jiang's public endorsement of private entrepreneurs.

Previous attempts by liberal-minded economists and private entrepreneurs have failed because of the adamant objection of conservatives within the party.

Mr Cao said the constitution could be amended by the National People's Congress when it meets in March. But he said more lobbying would be needed to overcome 'political hurdles'.

The mainland constitution currently states only that state properties are 'sacred and inviolable'.

'The constitution should state that both the state ownership and private ownership are sacred and inviolable,' Mr Cao said.

Howard Chao, the partner in charge of the O'Melveny and Myers China law practice in Shanghai, said: 'There has been an insecurity on the part of entrepreneurs in the past. They are an important and critical part of China's economic development issues and particularly employment issues.'



Rights plea for private sector