Provisions of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on Deputies' Suggestions, Criticisms and Opinions

(Adopted at the 1st Session of the Standing Committee of the 9th Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on April 20, 1988; revised at the 35th Session of the Standing Committee of the 13th Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on July 27, 2012; revised at the 3rd Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on January 29, 2015; amended for the first time in accordance with the Decision on Amending Five Local Regulations Including the Implementation Rules of Shanghai Municipality for Direct Election of Deputies to District/County and Town/Township People's Congresses adopted at the 28th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on April 21, 2016; amended for the second time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Procedures of Shanghai Municipality on the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Deputies to the National People's Congress and the Local People's Congresses at All Levels and Two Other Local Regulations and Repealing the Provisions of Shanghai Municipality on Conferring the Title of Honorary Citizen adopted at the 45th Session of the Standing Committee of the 15th Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on October 28, 2022; amended for the third time in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Procedures of Shanghai Municipality on the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Deputies to the National People's Congress and the Local People's Congresses at All Levels and Two Other Local Regulations adopted at the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of the 16th Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on September 5, 2025）

Article 1

With a view to handling the suggestions, criticisms and opinions of the deputies of the Municipal People's Congress (hereinafter referred to as the deputies), these Provisions are formulated in accordance with provisions of the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments of the People's Republic of China, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Deputies to the National People's Congress and the Local People's Congresses at All Levels and in the light of the actual circumstances of this Municipality.

Article 2

Deputies are legally entitled to make suggestions, criticisms and opinions on various aspects of the municipal affairs to the Municipal People's Congress and its Standing Committee.

Article 3

It is a statutory duty for relevant municipal organs and organizations to review and handle deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions and take charge of a reply. Relevant municipal organs and organizations shall consciously accept supervision from the national authorities, respect the people's principal status, listen carefully to the suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies on their work, respond actively to the People's concerns and support deputies in performing their duties.

The Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall strengthen supervision and inspection on the handling of suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies. The special committee as well as offices and agencies of the standing committees of municipal or district people's congresses shall ensure services to deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions.

Article 4

Suggestions, criticisms and opinions may be made by a deputy alone, by deputies jointly or by a delegation.

Where suggestions, criticisms and opinions are made by deputies jointly, the leading person of the joint deputies shall ensure the participants to know the content of the suggestions, criticisms and opinions made. The joint deputies shall confirm that the made suggestions, criticisms and opinions truly express their wishes.

When a delegation submits suggestions, criticisms, or opinions, they shall be fully discussed at a plenary meeting of the delegation, adopted by a majority vote of all the members of the delegation, and signed by the head of the delegation.

Article 5

Suggestions, criticisms and opinions can be forwarded during the Municipal People's Congress session period or adjournment period.

Article 6

Deputies shall make suggestions, criticisms and opinions on the major issues in economic and social development process within the administrative region and the issues of common concerns of the masses through the activities of inspections, special investigations, communications with original electoral units and the masses.

When submitting suggestions, criticisms, or opinions, deputies shall focus on improving quality, addressing one issue per submission, reflecting actual circumstances and problems, and providing specific suggestions and opinions.

Article 7

Suggestions, criticisms and opinions shall be made by deputies through the Online Processing System for Suggestions, Criticisms and Opinions of Deputies of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and may also be submitted in writing.

Article 8

Deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions cannot be put forward in one of the following circumstances:

1. beyond the scope of authority of relevant municipal organs or organizations;

2. related to the settlement of personal issues of deputies and of their relatives or the individual issues of the original units;

3. related to interference in specific law enforcement or judicial cases;

4. transfer of substitute letters or relevant materials;

5. within the scope of academic research or product promotion;

6. without actual content; or

7. other cases that are not fit for deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions.

In the above-mentioned circumstances, the Secretariat of the Municipal People's Congress (hereinafter referred to as the Congress Secretariat) or the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall explain the situation to the deputies, have them returned or process them as deputies' letters.

Article 9

In case that deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions and handling situations involve state secrets, relevant organs, organizations and deputies shall keep confidentiality in accordance with law.

Article 10

Deputies that request to withdraw the suggestions, criticisms and opinions during the session period of the Municipal People's Congress may submit their demand in writing to the Congress Secretariat; deputies that request to withdraw the suggestions, criticisms and opinions during the adjournment period of the Municipal People's Congress may submit their demand in writing to the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress.

The suggestions, criticisms and opinions put forward jointly by deputies can be withdrawn by deputies with one accord.

Article 11

A pre-submission communication mechanism for deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions shall be established. Based on the needs of deputies in lawfully performing their duties, the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall make overall arrangements for relevant organs and organizations to communicate with deputies and clarify relevant circumstances, and shall assist deputies in understanding current laws, regulations, policies, and work progress, among other matters.

Article 12

Suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies during the session period of the Municipal People's Congress shall be accepted and processed by the Congress Secretariat; during the adjournment period they shall be accepted and processed by the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress within seven working days upon reception.

Suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies shall be accepted and processed by the Secretariat or Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress through the Online Processing System for Suggestions, Criticisms and Opinions of Deputies of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.

Suggestions, criticisms, and opinions on the work of the administrative agencies, supervisory organs, judicial organs, and procuratorial organs in this Municipality brought by deputies shall be submitted respectively to Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Municipal Supervision Commission, Shanghai High People's Court, and People's Procuratorate of Shanghai Municipality for handling. The General Office of the Municipal People's Government shall be responsible for organizing and coordinating the suggestions, criticisms, and opinions handled by the administrative agencies.

Suggestions, criticisms and opinions made by the deputies to the Municipal People's Congress and its Standing Committee shall be forwarded to the relevant special committees, the offices or agencies of the Municipal People's Congress and its Standing Committee.

Suggestions, criticisms and opinions made by the deputies to other municipal organs or organizations shall be forwarded to the relevant municipal organs or organizations for handling.

Article 13

Entities responsible for handling the suggestions, criticisms, and opinions brought by deputies include specialized committees of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, administrative offices and working bodies of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and its Standing Committee, relevant departments of Shanghai Municipal People's Government, district people's governments, Shanghai Municipal Supervision Commission, Shanghai High People's Court, People's Procuratorate of Shanghai Municipality, and other relevant organs and organizations that are responsible for handling the suggestions, criticisms, and opinions brought by deputies.

Deputies may advise on the appointment of the undertaking unit. Deputies' suggestions shall be reviewed at transfer for handling or separate handling.

Article 14

When suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies require two or more undertaking units, the main organizing unit and coordinating unit shall be appointed at transfer for handling or separate handling. When two or more organizing units are required for reviewing and handling, their content shall be clearly identified to each unit.

Article 15

The undertaking units shall illustrate the situation of the suggestions, criticisms and opinions beyond their scope of authority to the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress or the General Office of the Municipal People's Government within seven days upon reception and shall promptly have them returned after consent, without detaining or self-transfer.

The Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress or the General Office of the Municipal People's Government shall promptly review the suggestions, criticisms and opinions returned from the undertaking units for handling.

The deputies that are not dissatisfied with transfer for handling or separate handling shall forward their opinions to the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress, which shall, in conjunction with relevant organs, organize review and feedback the situation of processing to the deputies in a timely manner.

Article 16

The General Office of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress, and the General Office of the Municipal People's Government shall organize a working meeting on the suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies for handling arrangements within one month after the close of the Municipal People's Congress.

Article 17

The undertaking unit shall establish and perfect a work system to handle deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions, deploy staff, and set up graded responsibility mechanism for the unit leader and staff, and focus on improving handling quality.

For suggestions, criticisms, and opinions brought by deputies which involve a wide range of aspects and are difficult for handling, the major responsible person(s) of entities shall be responsible for studying and handling them. In case of necessity, responsible persons of the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Municipal Supervision Commission, Shanghai High People's Court, People's Procuratorate of Shanghai Municipality, or other relevant organs and organizations may take the lead in studying, coordinating, and handling them.

In the process of studying to handle the suggestions, criticisms and opinions, the undertaking unit shall strengthen links and communication with deputies, inviting the deputies that put forward the relevant suggestions, criticisms and opinions for participation, and fully listen to their views and suggestions.

Article 18

For the suggestions, criticisms and opinions, to be handled jointly by two or more units, the coordinating units shall submit their written opinions to the organizing units within one month upon reception. When replying to deputies, the organizing units shall elaborate the handling opinions of the coordinating units. The coordinating units shall visit and reply to deputies, in line with the request of deputies or organizing units.

For the suggestions, criticisms and opinions, to be handled jointly by two or more units, the relevant units shall make sufficient communication and consultation for full consensus before replying to deputies.

For the suggestions, criticisms and opinions that need to be comprehensively coordinated due to high difficulty and inconsistent opinions between the relevant undertaking units, the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall conduct coordination; for the suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies handled by administrative organs, it shall conduct coordination with the General Office of the Municipal People's Government. Relevant undertaking units shall jointly illustrate the situation to deputies.

Article 19

The undertaking units shall reply to the deputies the handling results regarding the content of deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions, with realistic attitude and specific explicitly, distinction of different situations in one of the following circumstances:

1. In case the raised issues are resolved or basically resolved, or resolved in a partial way, or the referred opinions and suggestions are adopted, or partially adopted, the situation of resolution or adoption shall be notified to deputies;

2. In case the raised issues are put in its annual work plan, to be resolved with a clear timeline in place, the plan and time limit for settlement shall be notified to deputies;

3. In case the raised issues are put in the work plan, to be resolved gradually, with a planned timeline in place, the work plan and time limit for settlement shall be notified to deputies; And

4. In case the raised issues temporarily are unable to be resolved, and the opinions and suggestions possess reference values for strengthening and improving the work, and are thus to be reviewed and referred to in the work, the relevant situation as well as reasons shall be notified to deputies. The issues that cannot be resolved owing to the provisions of laws, regulations, or policies, or by restriction of conditions, the situation shall be truthfully explained to deputies.

Article 20

The undertaking unit shall reply to deputies the handling results of suggestions, criticisms and opinions within three months from the date of transfer for handling. In case of wide coverage, high difficulty and inability for completion within the time limit, a report shall be made in writing to the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress; in case that the undertaking unit is an administrative organ, it shall be submitted to the General Office of the Municipal People's Government simultaneously. The timeline can be appropriately extended through approval, with extension period not exceeding three months, and shall be promptly informed to deputies by the undertaking unit.

The undertaking unit that has not completed the handling of suggestions, criticisms and opinions during the period of leadership transition of the Municipal People's Congress shall continue to complete the processing of the suggestions within the time limit after the transition and reply to the suggestions raiser. The Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall urge undertaking units to handle in accordance with the provisions.

Article 21

The written reply of the undertaking unit to the deputies shall be reviewed and issued by the leading person of the unit, with the official seal. For the suggestions, criticisms and opinions put forward by deputies in joint names, the undertaking unit shall reply to each deputy. When replying to deputies, the undertaking unit shall put the information of responding opinions as well as of the undertaker into the Online Processing System for Suggestions, Criticisms and Opinions of Deputies of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, with a copy made to the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress. In case that the undertaking unit is an administrative organ, it shall be copied to the General Office of the Municipal People's Government.

Article 22

Upon receipt of reply to the suggestions, criticisms and opinions, deputies shall fill in the Feedback Sheet on the Handling of Deputies' Suggestions, Criticisms and Opinions to put comments on the handling attitude and results through the Online Processing System for Suggestions, Criticisms and Opinions of Deputies of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress. In case that the deputies are dissatisfied with the results, they shall fill in the specific opinions.

When deputies are dissatisfied with the response, the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall review the specific opinions of the deputies, and if necessary, a joint review shall be conducted, together with the General Office of the Municipal People's Government, and the review results shall be notified to deputies. The suggestions, criticisms and opinions that need to be re-handled shall be forwarded to the undertaking units for review and re-handling, and notified to the deputies within one month. The Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress and the General Office of the Municipal People's Government may organize face-to-face communication of the undertaking units with deputies.

Article 23

After informing deputies of the handling results, the undertaking units shall trace the handling of suggestions, criticisms and opinions, and put into effect the results. Traces of the handling results shall be registered into the Online Processing System for Suggestions, Criticisms and Opinions of Deputies of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.

The commitment of settlement to deputies within the corresponding period of time shall be fulfilled and notified in writing to the deputies after the settlement; unresolved issues within this year shall be traced for handling till next year; when the issue remains resolved at the leadership transition of the Municipal People's Congress, the situation shall be notified in writing to deputies. In case the responding suggestions fail to be put into effect owing to the variation of objective reasons, the undertaking unit shall promptly report relevant situation to deputies in writing, a written report shall be reviewed and issued by the leader of the unit, with a copy submitted to the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress, and a written report shall also be copied to the General Office of the Municipal People's Government.

Article 24

Deputies may inspect on the handling and the implementation of handling results of suggestions, criticisms and opinions through their proposal and the arrangements of the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress. The undertaking unit shall provide an earnest reception, truthfully elaborate situation and listen to the opinions of deputies.

Article 25

The undertaking units shall self-inspect the handling of deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions. The self-inspection shall be organized and conducted by the leader of the unit.

The undertaking units shall, in the middle and at the end of the year, submit a written report of their handling situation of suggestions, criticisms and opinions to the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress; in case that the undertaking unit is an administrative organ, the written report shall be submitted to the General Office of the Municipal People's Government simultaneously.

Article 26

The Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall organize the deputies who make suggestions, criticisms and opinions to conduct supervision and inspection on the handling work and the implementation of handling results. The Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall urge the relevant organs and organizations to conduct self-inspection and assessments on the handling situation in their own units as well as in their industries. For procrastination and delayed handling that cause adverse effects or losses, the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall require the undertaking unit to make corrections within a prescribed time limit and report the results; if the circumstances are serious, it shall propose the relevant organ or organization to prosecute the legal liability of the leader of the undertaking unit and related personnel according to law.

The Executive Committee Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress may designate special supervision topics focusing on economic and social development, issues closely related to the vital interests of the people, matters of widespread public concern, and the handling status of deputies' suggestions, criticisms, and opinions. It may also supervise and inspect the implementation of the handling work or the follow-up of handling results.

The Special Committees of the Municipal People's Congress shall organize deputies to conduct supervision and inspection over the handling work and the implementation of handling results of deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions, related to the special committees.

The Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress shall strengthen ties with both deputies and the undertaking units, listen to the opinions of deputies in a timely manner, urge suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies to be implemented.

Article 27

The contents of deputies' suggestions, criticisms, and opinions, as well as the handling replies from the undertaking units, shall be made public to society via the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress Website, except for information that is not appropriate to be disclosed, such as those involving state secrets, commercial secrets, personal privacy, or similar matters.

The handling situation of deputies' suggestions, criticisms and opinions shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress by the Municipal People's Government, the Municipal High People's Court, the Municipal People's Procuratorate and the Deputies' Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress in the mid-year and before the convening of the next Municipal People's Congress and make it known to the deputies and the public through the Duty Performance Platform of Deputies of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and the Gazette of the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.

Article 28

The Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress may, in accordance with problems reflected in the suggestions, criticisms, and opinions brought by the deputies, determine the relevant issues for deliberation on sessions of the Standing Committee when the sessions hear and deliberate the special work reports from the administrative agencies, supervisory organs, judicial organs, and procuratorial organs in this Municipality. The Standing Committee shall organize and conduct law enforcement inspections on the execution of relevant laws and regulations.

The Special Committees of the Municipal People's Congress can organize work investigation, based on the concentrated issues from suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies.

Article 29

Proposing and handling the suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies of the district and town/township people's congresses shall be implemented with reference to these Provisions.

Article 30

These Provisions shall be effective as of March 1, 2015.