Discussions and deliberations abound at the 11th National committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which started on 3 March, 2012 in Beijing.

Nearly 3,000 delegates are attending the 10-day event, where different pieces of legislation are discussed in detail which may sometimes leave the delegates in deep sleep.

On Thursday, China's parliament unveiled legislation to harden police powers to hold dissidents and other suspects of state security crimes.

Take a look at the Chinese delegates, dozing off during a discussion of the criminal procedural law at the second plenary meeting of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing:

China National People039s Congress
A delegate of the CPPCC yawns in the gallery during the second plenary meeting of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing 08/03/2012. Reuters
China National People039s Congress
A delegate of the CPPCC sleeps in the gallery during the second plenary meeting of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing 08/03/2012. Reuters
China National People039s Congress
A delegate of the CPPCC yawns in the gallery during the second plenary meeting of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing 08/03/2012. Reuters
China National People039s Congress
A delegate of the CPPCC sleeps in the gallery during the second plenary meeting of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Reuters
China National People039s Congress
A delegate of the CPPCC yawns in the gallery during the second plenary meeting of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Reuters
China National People039s Congress
A delegate of the CPPCC sleeps in the gallery during the second plenary meeting of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Reuters
China National People039s Congress
A delegate of the CPPCC sleeps in the gallery during the second plenary meeting of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Reuters
China National People039s Congress
One of the tea attendants yawns as they wait to serve delegates in Beijing 08/03/2012. Reuters
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