Many changes to China’s first charity law but individuals still banned from asking for money
Prohibition on campaigns by individuals remains as such actions are seen as personal requests for help rather than charity
Dozens of amendments have been made to the mainland’s first charity law but a controversial ban on donation appeals by individuals remains firmly in place.
The much-debated draft went through a third reading at the National People’s Congress last week and a fourth draft will be submitted for approval on Wednesday. More than 30 amendments were made to the third draft of the bill.
The NPC’s legal committee said the prohibition on campaigns by individuals stayed because such actions were seen as personal requests for help rather than charity .
There has been debate on whether individuals and families in serious difficulties should be allowed to ask for donations from the public, but lawmakers restricted the right only to authorised charities.
But it scrapped another controversial requirement that newly registered charities wait two years before being allowed to conduct public fundraising.
READ MORE: Needy clauses: Would China’s proposed charity law be a gift to the disadvantaged?
A previously proposal to make charities put details of online fundraising appeals on websites designated by the local and central government was changed tothose selected by the central government only.
