Lawmakers near to ending laojiao

Chinese lawmakers have embarked on the final stage in the process to scrap the system of laojiao - or re-education through labor.

On Monday, lawmakers began to read the State Council's motion to abolish the system, which was introduced in the 1950s.

Yang Huanning, vice-minister of public security, explained the State Council's proposal to lawmakers during their bimonthly session, which will continue through Saturday. The proposal suggests invalidating the two decisions on the use of laojiao approved by the National People's Congress Standing Committee in 1957 and 1979.