(Adopted at the Tenth Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People’s Congress on October 31, 1989,
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER II APPLICATION AND PERMISSION FOR ASSEMBLIES, PROCESSIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
CHAPTER III THE HOLDING OF ASSEMBLIES, PROCESSIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
CHAPTER IV LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
CHAPTER V SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1. Pursuant to the Constitution, this Law is enacted to safeguard citizens’ exercise of their right to assembly, procession Article 2. This Law shall apply to assemblies, processions and demonstrations held within the territory of the People’s The term ” assembly ” used in this Law means an activity in which people gather at a public place in the open air to The term ” procession ” used in this Law means an activity in which people line up for a march along a public road or The term ” demonstration ” used in this Law means an activity in which people express their common aspirations, including This Law shall not apply to recreational or sports activities. normal religious activities or traditional folk events. Article 3. The citizen’ exercise of their right to assembly, procession and demonstration shall be safeguarded by the people’s governments Article 4. In exercising their right to assembly, procession and demonstration, citizens must abide by the Constitution and Article 5. An assembly, a procession or a demonstration shall be held in a peaceful manner; no weapons, controlled cutting tools or Article 6. The competent authorities governing assemblies, processions and demonstrations shall be the municipal public security CHAPTER II APPLICATION AND PERMISSION FOR ASSEMBLIES, PROCESSIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS Article 7. For the holding of an assembly, a procession or a demonstration, application must be made to and permission obtained It shall not be necessary to apply for the following activities: (1) celebrations or commemorative activities held by the state or by state decisions; and (2) assemblies held by state organs, political parties, public organizations, enterprises or institutions Article 8. There must be a person or persons responsible for the holding of an assembly, a procession or a demonstration. For the holding of an assembly, a procession or a demonstration for which an application has to be made under Article 9. After receiving an application for an assembly, a procession or a demonstration, the competent authorities shall inform the If an assembly, a procession or a demonstration is truly necessitated by unexpected occurences, a report Article 10. If an application is made for an assembly, a procession or a demonstration which will press for the settlement of specific Article 11. If the competent authorities are of the opinion that the holding of an assembly, a procession or a demonstration at Article 12. No permission shall be granted for an application for an assembly, a procession or a demonstration which involves one (1) opposition to the cardinal principles specified in the Constitution; (2) harming the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state; (3) instigation of division among the nationalities; or (4) the belief, based on sufficient evidence, that the holding of the assembly, procession or demonstration that Article 13. If the person(s) responsible for an assembly, a procession or a demonstration does not accept the competent authorities’ Article 14. The person(s) responsible for an assembly, a procession or a demonstration may withdraw his application after submitting Article 15. No citizens shall, in a city other than his place of residence, start, organize or participate in an assembly, a procession Article 16. No functionary of a state organ shall organize or participate in an assembly, a procession or a demonstration Article 17. If anyone organizes or participates in an assembly, a procession or a demonstration in the name of a state
CHAPTER III THE HOLDING OF ASSEMBLIES, PROCESSIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS Article 18. With respect to an assembly, a procession or a demonstration held in compliance with law, the competent authorities Article 19. An assembly, a procession or a demonstration held in compliance with law shall not be disturbed, broken into or disrupted Article 20. In order to ensure the progress of a procession held in compliance with law, the people’s police responsible for keeping Article 21. If it becomes impossible for a procession to follow the permitted route because of unexpected circumstances occurring Article 22. If an assembly, a procession or a demonstration is held in or passes by places where state organs, military organs, radio Article 23. No assembly, procession or demonstration shall be held within a peripheral distance of 10-300 metres from the following (1) premises of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the State Council, the Central Military (2) places where state guests are staying; (3) important military installations; and (4) air harbours, railway stations and ports. The specific peripheral distances from the places listed in the preceding paragraph shall be defined by the people’s Article 24. The time for holding an assembly, a procession or a demonstration shall be limited to 6 a.m.-10 p.m., with Article 25. An assembly, a procession or a demonstration shall be conducted in accordance with the purposes, manners, posters, The person(s) responsible for an assembly, a procession or a demonstration must assume responsibility for maintaining The person(s) responsible for an assembly, a procession or a demonstration shall, when necessary, appoint special Article 26. The holding of an assembly, a procession or a demonstration shall not contravene the regulations on public security administration Article 27. The people’s police shall stop an assembly, a procession or a demonstration that is being held, if it involves one (1) failure to make an application in accordance with the provisions of this Law or to obtain permission for the application; (2) failure to act in accordance with the purposes, manners, posters, slogans, starting and finishing time, places (3) the emergence, in the course of the activity, of a situation which endangers public security or seriously undermines If any of the circumstances specified in the preceding paragraph occurs and the instruction to stop the activity If a participant in an assembly, a procession or a demonstration crosses the temporary security lines established in
CHAPTER IV LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY Article 28. Those who commit acts in violation of public security administration in the process of an assembly, a procession The public security organ may punish by warning or by criminal detention of not more than 15 days the responsible (1) failure to make an application in accordance with the provisions of this Law or to obtain permission for the application; (2) failure to act in accordance with the purposes, manners, posters, slogans, starting and finishing time, places, Article 29. Any participant in an assembly, a procession or a demonstration who commits a crime shall be investigated for Any participant in an assembly, a procession or a demonstration who carries weapons, controlled cutting tools or explosives In a case where no application has been made for an assembly, a procession or a demonstration in accordance with In a case where an assembly, a procession or a demonstration leads to the siege of a state organ or people breaking In a case where an assembly, a procession or a demonstration leads to the occupation of public places, the interception Article 30. Those who disturb, break into or undermine by other means an assembly, a procession or a demonstration held in Article 31. If a party refuses to accept the decision on punishment by detention made in accordance with the provisions of the second Article 32. Anyone who, in the course of an assembly, a procession or a demonstration, damages public or private property or Article 33. If a citizen, in a city other than his place of residence, starts or organizes an assembly, a procession or a demonstration
CHAPTER V SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS Article 34. This Law shall apply to assemblies, processions and demonstrations held by foreigners within the territory of China. Foreigners in the territory of China may not, without approval by the competent authorities, participate in an Article 35. The public security department under the State Council may, in accordance with this Law, formulate rules of implementation, The standing committees of the people’s congresses of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under Article 36. This Law shall enter into force on the date of promulgation.
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