The Presidential Office on December 13 made public five laws passed by the XIIthNational Assembly at its second session last month.
These laws include the Law Against Domestic Violence, the Law on Chemicals, the Law on Personal Income Tax, the Law on Prevention and Control of Contagious Diseases, and the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
According to the Law on Personal Income Tax, set to take effect on January 1, 2009, there are 10 kinds of income subject to this tax, including incomes from business activities; salary and wage; capital investment; capital transfer; real estate transfer; prize winning; copyright; commercial franchise; inheritance; and gifts.
The other four laws will come into force on July 1, 2008.
On December 14, the Presidential Office promulgated two more laws, namely the Law on Special Amnesty and the Law on Judicial Assistance.
The Law on Special Amnesty, which will take effect on March 1, 2008, governs the power, responsibilities and procedures for grant of amnesty to criminals. It also specifies conditions for criminals to be eligible for amnesty.
The Law on Judicial Assistance, which will come into force on July 1, 2008, defines responsibilities of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Security, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuracy in providing judicial assistance to citizens.-