Second Meeting of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Special Zones for Structural Reform Thursday, February 27, 2003 The second meeting of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Special Zones for Structural Reform was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, the "Government Policy in Response to the Second Round Proposals for Special Zones for Structural Reform" was adopted. Based on individual examination of each of the 651 deregulation proposals received from local governments and private businesses to January 15 this year, a decision was made on items that should be implemented in special zones for structural reform and items that should be implemented nationally. Those to be implemented in special zones include items such as participation in management of schools and the uninsured medical services sector by joint-stock companies. In accordance with this policy, the amendment of the Law on Special Zones for Structural Reform and the revision of the Basic Policy on Special Zones for Structural Reform will move ahead. At the close of the meeting, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stated, "We have had significant outcomes in fields such as education and medical care as a result of our examinations of the second round of proposals. The first special zone for structural reform will come into being in mid-April, and I would like each minister to explain to the public in an easy-to-understand manner what the details of the special zone are."