Hanoi (VNA) - Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) agreedon March 15 that the revised railway law needs comprehensive regulations thatwill help revitalise the country’s railway industry.

Underthe draft of the revised law which was on the NASC’s agenda, the Governmentgives priority to developing, maintaining and protecting national and urbanrailways in accordance with approved national transport development planning.

TheGovernment calls for and will support organisations and individuals ininvesting or running railway businesses.

Thedraft sees a new regulation on Government supports for the study and adoptionof advanced science and technology in a modern railway sector.

PhanXuan Dung, Chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Science, Technologyand Environment, said that the compilers of the law include the committee andtransport ministry – who also proposed a regulation in which the Governmentspends a proper proportion of the mid-term and yearly State-budget on railways.

Modestinvestment has been blamed on the slow development or even lagging behind ofthe railway sector in Vietnam.

Sincethe draft for the revised Railway Law was on the NA’s agenda last November, thecompilers made changes following the opinions of deputies. For example, theupdated draft includes regulations on the construction of railway stations andservice areas. The updated draft removed the regulation in which enterprisesare not allowed to provide services on State-owned railway routes which theGovernment had assigned them to operate.

Instead,railway businesses are regulated as conditional businesses and the Governmentwould issue a list of requirements.

NAVice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien stated that in 2015, funding for railwaysaccounted for 1.6 percent of the State’s transport fund while roads receivedover 92 percent, inland waterways 1.9 percent, marine transport 3.3 percent andairlines 0.3 percent.

Hesaid that Vietnam concentrated too much on roads and called for a balance ininvestment across different transport modes as well as better links among thefour modes.

TransportMinister Truong Quang Nghia said that railways in Vietnam had the advantagethat they could stretch from north to south.

“Oncerail becomes the top option for carrying passengers and goods, transport costswill drop,” he said.

Headof NA’s Justice Committee Le Thi Nga said that roads and coach services hadimproved over the last few years, becoming very attractive to passengers whilerailway services were struggling. To boost the railway sector detailed policiesare needed. 

TacklingNGO violations

Alsothe same day, NASC members looked into the amount of fines imposed onviolations by non-governmental organisations (NGO) that had been proposedearlier by the Government.

Speakingat the session on behalf of the Government, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs BuiThanh Son said operations by Vietnam-based NGOs generally abide by thecountry’s laws. However, violations still persist, including operating withoutregistration licences, renting offices without permission, or office addressesthat are different from those stated in registration licences.

Sonadded that there were also organisations engaged in activities that go againstsocial ethics and the country’s interests.

“Thereare also those trying to meddle in the country’s domestic affairs withactivities such as attempting to influence structural reforms and changes tothe law, or releasing announcements that slanders Vietnam adherence to humanrights and religious freedom,” Son said.

Asfor the organisation of international seminars or conferences, commonviolations include organising without obtaining permission or having permissionbut failing to consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or relatedlocalities and agencies; and not reporting the results of seminars andconferences to competent authorities as required.

Toensure the strict adherence to the law and increase the awareness of NGOs in Vietnam,the Government proposed to the NA a maximum fine of 30 million VND (1,300 USD)for violations in NGOs’ operations.

Meanwhile,a maximum fine of 20 million VND is proposed for violations in the organisationof international seminars and conferences.

Headof the NA’s Legal Committee Nguyen Khac Dinh said the majority of thecommittee’s members agreed with the amount the Government had proposed totackle violations in the operations of NGOs, despite the fact that they wererare.

Theysaid that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could also impose other kinds ofpunishments, aside from penalties, such as revoking registration licences, orexpelling responsible persons from the country in case of severe violations.

Theyalso concurred with the proposed 20-million-VND fine on violations in holdinginternational seminars and conferences.

Howeverthey said it is necessary to clarify that this is the maximum amount that canbe imposed on individuals. In case of violations by organisations, the amountshould be doubled.

At the end of the session, the NASC voted toagree on the amounts that the Government had proposed.-VNA