China is considering setting up a legislative body in the newly established city of Sansha, located on an island in the South China Sea, said authorities of Hainan Province, which administers Sansha.

The Standing Committee of the Hainan Provincial People's Congress will deliberate on a motion to set up an organizing committee for the legislative body in Sansha, sources said Thursday.

The motion will be discussed at a session of the provincial legislature's standing committee, scheduled for July 16-17 in Haikou, capital of Hainan, according to the sources.

The State Council approved in June the establishment of Sansha, a prefectural-level city that will administer the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha islands and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea.

The government seat of Sansha will be stationed on Yongxing Island, part of the Xisha Islands.