Removal regulation to revoke residence permits
Tran The Quan, Director of the Legal Department, under the Ministry of Public Security, made the statement on the afternoon of February 28. The ministry currently presides over amending and supplementing the Law on Residence.
According to Quan, the new draft decree will be repealed after the controversy it stirred up because of its limits on immigration into big cities.
He said the ministry worked with the NA’s Law Committee, which examined and verified the decree, and agreed to remove the regulation.
"Initially policy makers proposed the regulation because they thought those living abroad for two or more years, convicts and soldiers were away from their homes for too long, placing them under the management of another jurisdiction. However, after some criticism of the regulation, we decided to remove it from the amended Law on Residence," he said.
Chairman of the NA's Law Committee, Phan Trung Ly, said that revoking the residence permits of those who travel abroad for more than two years would violate people's rights.
Nguyen Van Hien, Chairman of NA's Justice Committee, also opposed the decree, saying that it violated the basic rights of citizens.
Chairman of the National Assembly, Nguyen Sinh Hung, said, "People should have the freedom to choose their place of residence and where they receive health services and education. Policy should create favourable conditions which enable people instead of creating difficulties."