(Thai Press Reports Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Section: Regional News - National Assembly (NA) deputies yesterday continued discussion on the draft Law on Information Technology following earlier debate on issues related to flight security and compensation for cancellations as provisioned in the draft Law on Civil Aviation.

Director of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Ho Duc Viet presented a report on proposed revisions to the Law on Information Technology, which he said cleared the way for Internet users to register Web sites using the ".vn" Vietnamese domain name without first having to wait for approval from the Ministry of Post and Telematics.

Deputy Mai Anh from Khanh Hoa Province said that the draft law needed to clarify that without having to receive ministerial approval, organisations and individuals must accept responsibility for any content posted on their Web sites.

He warned that if regulations laid out in the draft law were too stringent, State agencies could be hindered in their application of IT. This could exasperate the fact that many Government offices are already lagging behind in their use of new technologies, he added.

Deputy Mai Anh highlighted the importance of undertaking administrative reforms before State agencies are impelled to step up their use of modern information systems. IT applications were of secondary concern while reformed working regulations and processes were being worked out, he said.

Deputy Nguyen Lan Dung of Dac Nong Province said the Law on Information Technology, with its 6 chapters and 79 articles, must be used to make the country more wealthy. "How can it be used to improve the efficiency of administrative reforms and contribute to increased production?" he asked.

Dung said that the use of IT systems in the country remained limited, while many agencies still use computers as nothing more than typewriters, noting managers must be tech savvy if their agencies are to follow suit.

IT should be used to enhance administrative reforms, raise public awareness, improve the quality of education, and increase the quality of the nation's goods and services, he said.

The popularity of on-line gaming remains an issue of concern for many deputies, as many families are expressing frustration with the amount of time their children spent playing them everyday, said Dung. Although Internet cafes have already been instructed to shut at a designated hour, many violate the law by allowing play to continue after the doors are locked, he warned.

Dung suggested that attention should be given to the problem, and that many of the nation's young people neglect their studies and careers to devote themselves to Internet gaming. Many deputies responded to Dung's comments saying specific regulations were needed to address this issue.

Deputy Nguyen Thi Hong Dao of An Giang Province addressed the assembly about recent disputes in the IT sector, saying regulations were required to ensure future conflicts are resolved satisfactorily.

Sanctions for any violations of practices banned in the IT sector must be clearly laid out in future legislation, she added.

Revised Civil Aviation Law Aviation security and compensation for flight delays and cancellations were an issue on the floor of the National Assembly on Monday when NA deputies discussed the revised Civil Aviation Law.

Deputy Huynh Van Chinh, who represents Da Nang City, said existing regulations pertaining to compensation for flight delays and cancellation were too general and complicated, which he said resulted in domestic airlines offering rates preferable for them but unfair to their customers.

Tran Hong Viet, of the southern province of Can Tho, said the draft law should clarify compensation rates to protect customers facing the possibility of heavy financial losses because of airline delays and cancellations.

He cited a recent case where a flight with 120 passengers was grounded with a technical problem just before it was scheduled to depart from Hue Airport. Although the airline involved quickly brought in another plane, the replacement aircraft had a seating capacity for just 70 passengers. The remaining 50 passengers were delayed, resulting in the inconvenience of having to cancel business and personal plans.

If the new law is passed as it stands, customers may not be properly compensated in similar situations, Viet said.

He proposed the National Assembly permit foreign carriers to operate routes to poor, remote, mountainous areas, which would result in better competition among domestic carriers. Under Article 6 of the existing draft, the State is to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese carriers to exclusively provide air services to remote mountainous areas of the country.

Deputy Tran The Vuong of Hai Duong proposed changes to Article 169 in the draft law, which requires individuals seeking to sue an air carrier to first send petitions directly to the airline. They would only be eligible to pursue the case if the airline in question fails to respond within 30 days or refuses to deal with the case. "Such a ruling definitely gives air carriers an unfair advantage over their customers," Vuong said.

The lawmakers devoted considerable time to discussion of flight security, with many agreeing that intoxicated passengers or those causing a disturbance at the airport should not be allowed to board their flights.

They also discussed other amendments to the law, including the devolution of State management offices, business and production activities at airports nation-wide.

They said with air traffic control offices both provided flight control services and functioned as State management offices, creating a possible conflict of interest between State management activities and business pursuits.

National Assembly deputy chairman Nguyen Phuc Thanh said the current draft on Civil Aviation addressed many issues that had long concerned both lawmakers and the public.

The responsibility of the ministries of Transport, National Defence and Public Security and others in managing, protecting and co-ordinating the use of the nation's airspace to serve civil aviation and assure public safety is clearly defined in articles 9, 84, 90 and 93, he said. - VNS

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