The Pudong New Area has been given legislative authority in a unanimous decision by the Standing Committee of Shanghai People's Congress on Thursday. In China, city districts have no authority to make laws but Shanghai legislators said authorization in Pudong’s case is in accordance with China’s law on legislation so as to further facilitate development of the area. Legislation will be restricted to the fields of deepening reform, further opening up, innovation development, industrial upgrading and urban functions. The standing committee of the Pudong people's congress and the district’s government will be able to make legal decisions, resolutions and regulatory documents in the above fields. Pudong’s committee was also authorized to decide to temporarily adjust or suspend some stipulations in Shanghai’s regulations within a certain period, putting it on record at the standing committee of Shanghai People’s Congress. The Shanghai committee can make the same decision for the Pudong New Area, and all local regulations will be immediately adjusted to reflect state-level laws, regulations and decisions regarding the new area, according to the decision. The decision also authorized Shanghai’s government to introduce regulations and regulatory documents solely for the Pudong New Area and give it certain administrative responsibilities in economic affairs. The decision takes effect from Friday. Ding Wei, director of the committee on legislation work of the Shanghai committee, said a survey on the issue started in mid June on the heels of the latest opinions from the Shanghai committee of the Communist Party of China on Pudong’s development at the end of May. “The decision was not included in our legislation program for this year, which stresses its significance and urgency,” he said. According to the decision, the Shanghai committee will enhance inspections of the implementation of the decision by asking for work reports and checking enforcement.