Order of the President of the People’s Republic of China

No. 3

The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Protection of Disabled Persons, amended and adopted at the 2nd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China on April 24, 2008, is hereby promulgated and shall go into effect as of July 1, 2008.

Hu Jintao

President of the People’s Republic of China

April 24, 2008

Law of the People’s Republic of China on Protection of Disabled Persons

(Adopted at the 17th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People’s Congress on December 28, 1990, and amended at the 2nd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National People’s Congress on April 24, 2008)

Contents

Chapter I General Provisions

Chapter II Rehabilitation

Chapter III Education

Chapter IV Employment

Chapter V Cultural Life

Chapter VI Social Security

Chapter VII Accessible Environment

Chapter VIII Legal Liability

Chapter IX Supplementary Provisions

Chapter I

General Provisions

Article 1 This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution for the purpose of protecting the lawful rights and interests of disabled persons, developing undertakings for them, and ensuring their equal and full participation in social life and their share of the material and cultural wealth of the society.

Article 2 A disabled person is one who suffers from loss or abnormality of a certain organ or function, psychologically or physiologically, or in anatomical structure and who has lost wholly or in part the ability to perform an activity in a normal way.

Disabled persons include persons with visual, hearing, speech, physical or intellectual disabilities, mental retardation, multiple disabilities or other disabilities.

The criteria upon which to classify disabilities shall be formulated by the State Council.

Article 3 Disabled persons shall enjoy equal rights with other citizens in political, economic, cultural and social fields, and in family life and other aspects.

The citizen’s rights and personal dignity of disabled persons shall be protected by law.

Discrimination on the basis of disability is prohibited. Humiliation of and intrusion upon disabled persons are prohibited. Playing down and impairing upon the personal dignity of disabled persons through the mass media or by any other means are prohibited.

Article 4 The State shall provide disabled persons with special assistance by adopting supplementary methods and supportive measures, with a view to alleviating or eliminating the effects of their disabilities and the external barriers and ensuring the realization of their rights.

Article 5 People's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate the undertakings for disabled persons into their plans for national economic and social development in order to exercise stronger leadership and facilitate all-around coordination, and shall include the funds for the undertakings for disabled persons in the budgets with a view to establishing mechanisms to ensure a stable supply of funds.

The State Council shall formulate the outline program for the development of the undertakings for disabled persons and local people’s governments at or above the county level shall, on the basis of the said program, work out plans and annual plans for such development in their respective administrative areas, with a view to ensuring that the undertakings for disabled persons develop in coordination with economic and social progress.

Offices in charge of the work for disabled persons under people’s governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for mobilizing, coordinating the efforts of departments concerned and giving them guidance in the work and seeing to it that they make a success of the work.

People’s governments at various levels and the departments concerned shall keep in close contact with disabled persons, solicit their opinions and fulfill their own respective duties in the work for disabled persons.

Article 6 The State shall adopt measures to ensure that disabled persons, in accordance with law and through various channels and in various forms, participate in the management of State affairs, economic and cultural undertakings and social affairs.

Opinions of disabled persons and their organizations shall be solicited for the formulation of laws, regulations and rules and public policies involving major issues concerning their rights and interests and the undertakings for disabled persons.

Disabled persons and their organizations have the right to put forward opinions and suggestions to government departments at various levels concerning the protection of disabled persons’ rights and interests and the development of the undertakings for disabled persons, etc.

Article 7 The whole society shall carry forward humanitarianism, understand, respect, care for and assist disabled persons and support the undertakings for disabled persons.

The State encourages public organizations and individuals to make donations to disabled persons and provide them with services.

Government departments, public organizations, enterprises, public institutions and urban and rural grass-roots mass organizations of self-government shall do their work well for disabled persons, as is within their responsibilities.

State functionaries and other staff engaged in the work for disabled persons shall fulfill their duties in accordance with law and do their best to serve disabled persons.

Article 8 The China Disabled Persons’ Federation and its local organizations shall represent the common interests of disabled persons, safeguard their lawful rights and interests, unite, educate and serve them.

China Disabled Persons’ Federation and its local organizations shall, in accordance with law, regulations and its constitution or as commissioned by the government, conduct work for disabled persons and mobilize different sectors of society in developing the undertakings for disabled persons.

Article 9 Fosterers of disabled persons must fulfill their duties towards such persons in their charge.

Guardians of disabled persons must fulfill their duties of guardianship and respect the will and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of such persons in their charge.

Family members and guardians of disabled persons shall encourage and assist disabled persons to enhance their capability of self-reliance.

Domestic violence against disabled persons, maltreatment and abandoning of disabled persons are prohibited.

Article 10 The State encourages disabled persons to have a sense of self-respect, self-confidence, self-improvement and self-reliance, and make contribution to socialist development.

Disabled persons shall abide by laws and regulations, fulfill their due obligations, observe public order and respect social ethics.

Article 11 The State shall undertake, in a planned way, disability prevention, strengthen leadership in this regard, publicize and popularize knowledge of maternal and infant healthcare as well as disability prevention, establish sound mechanisms for the prevention, early detection and early treatment of birth defects, and organize and mobilize different sectors of society to take measures in dealing with disability-causing factors such as heredity, diseases, medication, accidents, calamity and environmental pollution, to prevent and alleviate disabilities.

The State shall establish a sound census system to conduct survey and analysis of the conditions of disabled persons.

Article 12 The State and society shall provide special protection to disabled servicemen, persons disabled on the job or in safeguarding the interests of the country and the people, giving them relief and preferential treatment.

Article 13 People’s governments at various levels and the departments concerned shall commend and reward those disabled persons who achieve notable successes in socialist development and those units and individuals that achieve notable success in safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of, promoting the undertakings for, and providing services to, disabled persons.

Article 14 The third Sunday of May every year shall be designated as the National Day for Supporting Disabled Persons.

Chapter II

Rehabilitation

Article 15 The State ensures that disabled persons enjoy the right to rehabilitation services.

People’s governments at various levels and the departments concerned shall adopt measures to create conditions for rehabilitation of disabled persons, establish and improve the service system for rehabilitation of disabled persons and carry out priority rehabilitation programs by stages to help disabled persons regain normal functions or compensate for lost functions, thus enhancing their ability to participate in social life.

Article 16 People in charge of the work for rehabilitation shall, proceeding from the actual conditions, combine modern techniques for rehabilitation with traditional Chinese techniques; take the communities as the base and rehabilitation institutions as the backbone and rely on the families of disabled persons for support; lay emphasis on projects which are practical, feasible and widely beneficial; give first priority to emergency treatment and rehabilitation for disabled children; and develop science and technology which meet the requirements for rehabilitation, encourage independent innovation, and make redoubled efforts in research, exploration and application of new rehabilitation technologies, in order to provide more effective services to disabled persons.

Article 17 People’s governments at various levels shall encourage and support different sectors of society in establishing rehabilitation institutions for disabled persons.

Local people's governments at various levels and the departments concerned shall mobilize and give guidance to urban and rural community service organizations, medical treatment prevention and healthcare institutions, organizations and families of disabled persons and other sectors of society in carrying out community-based rehabilitation work.

Institutions of education, welfare units and other service institutions for disabled persons shall create conditions for rehabilitation training.

Disabled persons shall, under the guidance of professionals and with the help of relevant staff, volunteers and family members, exert themselves in training programs for functional recovery, self-care ability and work skills.

Article 18 Local people’s governments at various levels and the departments concerned shall, where necessary and in a planned way, establish medical rehabilitation departments (sections) in hospitals, set up rehabilitation institutions for disabled persons, provide medical rehabilitation treatment and training, personnel training and technical guidance, carry out scientific research,etc.

Article 19 Medical colleges and schools and the other colleges and schools concerned shall, in a planned way, offer rehabilitation courses and set up relevant disciplines in order to develop different types of rehabilitation specialists.

The government and the society shall provide various forms of technical training for rehabilitation workers, disseminate knowledge of rehabilitation among disabled persons, their family members, the workers and volunteers engaged in this work, and impart to them the methods of rehabilitation.

Article 20 The government departments concerned shall organize and support the research, manufacture, supply and maintenance of rehabilitation instruments and assist devices.

Chapter III

Education

Article 21 The State guarantees the right of disabled persons to equally receive education.

People’s governments at various levels shall make education of disabled persons a component of the national program of education, include it in their overall planning, strengthen leadership and guidance, create conditions for disabled persons to receive education.

The governments, communities, and schools shall take effective measures to resolve the real difficulties faced by disabled children and adolescents in schooling, and help them complete compulsory education.

People’s governments at various levels shall provide free textbooks for disabled students receiving compulsory education and for students from poverty-stricken families of disabled persons, and offer them boarding allowances and other subsidies; and with regard to the disabled students and students from poverty-stricken families of disabled persons, who are receiving an education other than compulsory education, financial aid shall be given to them according to the relevant regulations of the State.

Article 22 The principle of combining popularization with upgrading of quality shall be implemented in the education of disabled persons, with emphasis on the former. Compulsory education shall be guaranteed, priority shall be given to developing vocational education, while efforts shall be made to carry out preschool education and gradually develop education at or above the senior high school level.

Article 23 Education for disabled persons shall be based on their physical and psychological features and needs, and shall meet the following requirements:

(1) strengthening physical and psychological compensation and vocational education while providing ideological and cultural education;

(2) adopting ordinary or special methods of education according to different categories of disabilities and varied ability of response; and

(3) allowing appropriate flexibility in determining the curricula, teaching materials and methods for special education and the age requirement for admission and schooling.

Article 24 People’s governments at or above the county level shall, according to the number of disabled persons, their geographical distribution, the categories of disabilities and other factors, set up institutions of education for disabled persons in a rational manner, and encourage different sectors of society to run schools and make donations to help this endeavor.

Article 25 Ordinary institutions of education shall provide education for disabled persons who are able to receive ordinary education, and offer conveniences and help for their studies.

Ordinary primary schools and junior high schools must admit disabled children or adolescents who are able to adapt themselves to life and study there; ordinary senior high schools, secondary vocational schools, and institutions of higher learning must admit disabled students who meet the admission requirements laid down by the State, and shall not deny their admission because of their disabilities; in case of such denial, the student concerned, his family members or guardians may appeal to the relevant authority for disposition, and the latter shall instruct the school concerned to accept the student.

Ordinary institutions of preschool education shall admit disabled children who are able to adapt themselves to the life there.

Article 26 Institutions of preschool education for disabled children, classes for disabled children attached to ordinary institutions of preschool education, preschool classes of institutions of special education, welfare institutions for disabled children and families of such children shall be responsible for preschool education of disabled children.

Institutions of special education at or below junior high school level and special classes attached to institutions of ordinary education at or below such level shall be responsible for providing compulsory education for disabled children or adolescents who are devoid of the ability to respond to ordinary education.

Institutions of special education at or above senior high school level and special classes attached to institutions of ordinary education at or above such level, as well as institutions of vocational education for disabled persons, shall be responsible for providing education in general knowledge at or above senior high school level and vocational education for eligible disabled persons.

Institutions offering special education shall have the premises and facilities suited to the special characteristics of the study, rehabilitation and daily life of disabled persons.

Article 27 The government departments concerned, units where disabled persons work and the relevant public organizations shall carry out literacy education, vocational training, entrepreneurship training and other forms of adult education for disabled persons, and encourage them to become educated through self-study.

Article 28 The State shall, in a planned way, set up normal colleges and disciplines for different forms of special education at different levels and have special education classes attached to ordinary normal schools, in order to train and develop teachers for special education. Ordinary normal schools shall offer curricula or lectures on special education to help teachers in ordinary education master the necessary knowledge for special education.

Teachers of special education and sign language interpreters shall enjoy allowances for special education.

Article 29 The government departments concerned shall organize and support the research and application of braille and sign language, the compilation, writing and publication of teaching materials for special education, and the research, production and supply of teaching apparatus and auxiliary facilities for special education.

Chapter IV

Employment

Article 30 The State guarantees disabled persons’ right to work.

People’s governments at various levels shall formulate overall plans for employment of disabled persons and create conditions for their employment.

Article 31 In employment of disabled persons, the principle of combining collective arrangement with individual arrangement shall be followed. Preferential policies as well as supporting and protective measures shall be adopted with a view to gradually making it a general, stable and rational practice to employ disabled persons through multiple channels, at various levels and in a variety of forms.

Article 32 The governments and the society shall set up welfare enterprises for disabled persons, institutions of massage by blind persons, and other units of a welfare character as a means of providing jobs for disabled persons collectively.

Article 33 The State shall introduce a system for employment of disabled persons in a given proportion.

Government departments, public organizations, enterprises, public institutions, and non-governmental non-enterprise units shall, in keeping with the proportion assigned, employ disabled persons and select the appropriate types of jobs and posts for them. Those that fail to keep the proportion assigned shall fulfill their obligation to guarantee the employment of disabled persons in accordance with relevant State regulations. The State encourages employers to offer more jobs for disabled persons than the proportion assigned.

The specific measures for employment of disabled persons shall be formulated by the State Council.

Article 34 The State encourages and supports disabled persons in their efforts to find jobs or start undertakings by themselves.

Article 35 Local people’s governments at various levels and rural grassroots organizations shall organize and support disabled persons in rural areas to engage in crop planting, animal breeding, handicraft industry and other forms of production.

Article 36 With respect to the units that have attained or exceeded the proportions assigned for the employment of disabled persons, or have employed disabled persons collectively, and with respect to self-employed disabled persons, the State shall implement preferential tax policies according to law, and shall provide them with assistance in terms of production, business operation, technology, funds, materials supply, working sites, etc. The State shall exempt self-employed disabled workers from administrative fees.

Local people’s governments at or above the county level and the departments concerned shall determine the types of products and businesses suitable for disabled persons, give priority to welfare enterprises for disabled persons to produce such products or operate such businesses, and, in light of the special features of the said enterprises, determine which types of products are to be produced exclusively by them.

When making procurement, the government shall give priority to products manufactured or services provided by welfare enterprises for disabled persons, when other conditions are the same.

Local people’s governments at all levels shall create public welfare jobs suitable for disabled persons.

In issuing business licenses, the departments concerned shall give priority to disabled persons who apply for such licenses for self-employed business.

The departments concerned shall provide assistance to disabled persons in rural areas engaged in various kinds of production in terms of production services, technical guidance, supply of farm materials, purchasing and marketing of farm and sideline products, and loan granting.

Article 37 Public employment service institutions set up by relevant governmental departments shall provide employment services to disabled persons free of charge.

Employment service institutions set up by disabled persons’ federations shall organize efforts to provide free vocational guidance, job recommendation and vocational training, to provide service and help to disabled persons in finding jobs and to potential employers in recruiting such persons.

Article 38 The State protects the property ownership of welfare units for disabled persons and their independent decision-making power in business operation, and their lawful rights and interests are inviolable.

No discrimination shall be practiced against disabled persons in employment, in their acquiring of a regular status, promotion, evaluation of technical or professional titles, payment for work, welfare benefits, rest and vacations, social insurance or in other aspects.

Work units of disabled persons shall provide appropriate working conditions and occupational protection on the basis of the characteristics of disabled workers, and shall make renovations of the workplaces, work equipment and everyday life facilities in light of their actual needs.

The State shall take measures to protect the lawful rights and interests of blind persons working in the professions of health care or medical massage.

Article 39 Work units of disabled workers shall provide in-service technical training to disabled employees in order to upgrade their skills and raise their technical level.

Article 40 No organization or individual may compel disabled persons to work by resorting to violence, threat or illegal restriction of personal freedom.

Chapter V

Cultural Life Article 41 The State guarantees disabled persons’ right to equal participation in cultural life.

People’s governments at various levels and the departments concerned shall encourage and assist disabled persons to participate in various forms of cultural, sports and recreational activities and shall proactively create conditions to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of disabled persons.

Article 42 Cultural, sports and recreational activities for disabled persons shall be oriented towards the grassroots level, integrated into public cultural life and geared to the different characteristics and needs of different categories of disabled persons, in order to bring about mass participation.

Article 43 The government and society shall adopt the following measures to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of disabled persons:

(1) publicizing and covering the work and life of disabled persons through radio, film, television, newspapers and periodicals, books, the Internet and other media in the interests of disabled persons;

(2) organizing and supporting the compilation, writing and publication of braille books, audio materials for the blind and other reading materials for other disabled persons; and according to the actual need of blind persons, setting aside reading rooms furnished with braille books and audio materials for them in public libraries;

(3) offering TV programs in sign language and radio programs specially designed for disabled persons, and providing subtitles or narrations for more TV programs and movies;

(4) mobilizing and supporting disabled persons in cultural, sports and recreational activities of a mass character, and sponsoring special art performances, sports meets among disabled persons and facilitating their participation in international contests and interactions.

(5) providing conveniences to and showing consideration for disabled persons at places of cultural, sports, recreational and other public activities and set up recreation centers for disabled persons in a planned way.

Article 44 The government and society shall encourage and assist disabled persons to engage in creative work beneficial to the people, such as literature, art, education, science and technology, etc.

Article 45 The government and society shall promote mutual understanding and exchange between disabled persons and other citizens, publicize the undertakings for disabled persons and deeds of assistance for disabled persons, promote the unyielding spirit of disabled persons and preach the virtues of unity, fraternity and mutual assistance.

Chapter VI

Social Security Article 46 The State guarantees disabled persons’ right to a variety of social security.

The government and society shall take measures to improve social security for disabled persons, ensure and improve their life.

Article 47 Disabled persons and their work units shall purchase social insurance in accordance with relevant State regulations.

Urban and rural mass organizations of self-government at grass-roots level where there are disabled persons and families of disabled persons shall encourage and help them to purchase social insurance.

For those disabled persons who really have financial difficulties, they shall get social insurance subsidies according to relevant State regulations.

Article 48 People’s governments at various levels shall provide, through multiple channels, social relief to disabled persons who really have financial difficulties, in respect of their living, education, housing, etc.

Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall take other measures to ensure the basic living standards of the families of disabled persons who still have special financial difficulties after receiving the minimum living allowances.

People’s governments at various levels shall, according to relevant regulations, provide relief and subsidy for the basic medical care and rehabilitation services and for installment and replacement of the necessary assist devices.

Local people’s governments at various levels shall provide, in light of the specific conditions, nursing subsidies for disabled persons who cannot take care of themselves in their daily lives.

Article 49 Local people’s governments at various levels shall, in accordance with relevant regulations, help provide for the disabled persons who have no ability to work or have no provider, or whose providers have no ability to provide for them, or who have no source of income.

The State encourages and supports non-governmental entities to establish provision or nursing homes for disabled persons.

Provision or nursing homes for disabled persons and their staff shall not humiliate, maltreat or abandon disabled persons.

Article 50 People’s governments at or above the county level shall, in light of the actual conditions, provide conveniences and preferential treatment for disabled persons when the latter take public means of transport. Disabled persons shall be allowed to carry on board their indispensable assist devices free of charge.

With valid certificates, blind persons may take public means of transport such as buses, trolleybuses, subways, ferry boats free of charge. Mailing and delivery of reading materials for blind persons shall be free of charge.

The State encourages and supports telecommunications, radio and TV service providers to give preferential treatment to persons with visual, hearing, or speech disabilities.

People’s governments at various levels shall gradually increase their care and support for disabled persons in other aspects.

Article 51 The government departments concerned and organizations of disabled persons shall establish sound channels for people from all walks of life to make donations and provide services to disabled persons, encourage and support the development of charity for disabled persons, and encourage volunteers to help disabled persons, and other activities for the public good.

Chapter VII

Accessible Environment

Article 52 The State and society shall take measures to gradually improve accessible facilities and promote barrier-free exchange of information, in order to create an accessible environment for disabled persons to participate in public activities on an equal footing with others.

People’s governments at various levels shall make overall plans, coordinate efforts in an all-around way, strengthen supervision and management in the development of an accessible environment.

Article 53Accessible facilities shall be constructed and renovated in conformity with the actual needs of disabled persons.

Newly-constructed, renovated or expanded buildings, roads, transport facilities, etc. shall conform to the national standards for construction projects with accessible facilities.

People’s governments at various levels and the departments concerned shall, in accordance with the State regulations on construction projects with accessible facilities, gradually renovate the existing facilities, and give priority to the renovation of public service facilities closely related to the daily work and life of disabled persons.

Accessible facilities shall be maintained and serviced in a timely manner.

Article 54 The State adopts measures to create conditions to make the exchange of information accessible to disabled persons.

People’s governments at various levels and the departments concerned shall take measures to facilitate access to public information by disabled persons.

The State and society shall research and develop technologies and products for exchange of information which can be used by disabled persons.

For entrance examinations for schools of a higher grade, examinations for professional qualifications and examinations for appointment which are conducted by the State and in which blind persons take part, braille or electronic examination papers or assistance by specialized staff shall be made available.

Article 55 Public service institutions and public places shall create conditions and provide disabled persons with services for exchange of information, such as voice and written guide, sign language and braille, and give them priority and assistance.

Public means of transport shall gradually be made barrier-free. Where conditions permit, public parking lots shall provide a parking space specially for disabled persons.

Article 56 Departments in charge of the organization of elections shall provide conveniences for disabled persons to participate in election. Where conditions permit, braille ballots shall be prepared for blind persons.

Article 57 The State encourages and supports the research and development of auxiliary barrier-free equipment and barrier-free means of transport.

Article 58 Blind persons shall comply with relevant State regulations when helped by guide dogs in public place.

Chapter VIII

Legal Liability

Article 59 Where the lawful rights and interests of a disabled person are infringed upon, he may file a complaint with the organization of disabled persons, which shall safeguard the lawful rights and interests of the person and have the right to require that the department or unit concerned investigate and deal with the case. The said department or unit concerned shall do what it is required to do according to law and make a reply.

The organization of disabled persons shall provide support to a disabled person who needs assistance in preserving his own rights and interests through litigation.

Where the interests of a certain group of disabled persons are jeopardized, the organization of disabled persons shall have the right to require that the department concerned investigate and deal with the case in accordance with law.

Article 60 Where the lawful rights and interests of a disabled person are infringed upon, he shall have the right to require that the department concerned deal with the infringement according to law, or according to law, apply to an arbitral body for arbitration or bring a lawsuit before a people’s court.

For a disabled person in financial difficulties, or for other reasons, who needs legal aid or judicial assistance, the local legal aid institution or people’s court shall help him and provide him with legal aid or judicial assistance in accordance with law.

Article 61 Where a State functionary, in violation of the provisions of this Law, fails to investigate and handle a complaint, charge or exposure regarding the infringement of the rights and interests of disabled persons by evading or delaying such investigation and handling or suppressing such complaint, charge or exposure, or retaliates against the person who makes the complaint, charge or exposure, the unit where the State functionary works, the department in charge or the authority at a higher level shall instruct him to rectify, and shall, according to law, give sanctions to the principal leading person directly in charge of the unit and the other persons directly responsible.

Where a State functionary fails to perform his duty according to law and fails to stop, in a timely manner, the infringement of the lawful rights and interests of disabled persons or to provide the victims with the necessary help, thus serious consequences ensue, the unit where the functionary works or the authority at a higher level shall, according to law, give sanctions to the principal leading person directly in charge of the unit and the other persons directly responsible.

Article 62 Where an entity, in violation of the provisions of this Law, debases and besmirches disabled persons’ personal dignity through the mass media or by other means, the department of culture, radio, film and television, of the press and publication，or other competent department concerned shall, in compliance with their respective functions and powers, instruct the entity to rectify and give the entity an administrative penalty according to law.

Article 63 Where an institution of education, in violation of the provisions of this Law, refuses to enroll disabled students or restricts their admission by adding extra requirements for admission to the ones prescribed by the State, the competent department concerned shall instruct it to rectify and shall, according to law, give sanctions to the principal leading person directly in charge of the institution and the other persons directly responsible.

Article 64 Where an entity, in violation of the provisions of this Law, discriminates against a disabled person when recruiting employees, the competent departments concerned shall instruct the entity to rectify; the disabled person looking for job shall have the right to bring a lawsuit before the people’s court.

Article 65 Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, a provision or nursing home or its worker humiliates, maltreats, or abandons a disabled person, sanctions shall be given to the principal leading person directly in charge of the home and the other persons directly responsible in accordance with law; administrative penalties shall be given if the act constitutes a violation of administration for public security.

Article 66 Where, in violation of the provision of this Law, newly constructed, renovated or expanded buildings, roads and transport facilities fall short of the national standards for construction projects of accessible facilities, or the barrier-free facilities are not maintained or serviced in a timely manner, which leads to adverse consequences, the competent departments concerned shall deal with the case in accordance with law.

Article 67 Where administrative penalties are prescribed by other laws and regulations for infringement of the lawful rights and interests of disabled persons in violation of the provisions of this Law, the provisions there shall prevail; if such infringement causes loss of property or other damages, the infringer shall bear civil liability according to law; and if a crime is constituted, he shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law.

Chapter IX

Supplementary Provisions

Article 68 This Law shall go into effect as of July 1, 2008.