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Scrapping official pomp is only the start
Source: Xinhua |
January 24, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SOME Chinese officials have won plaudits for shunning extravagance - the stripped-down visuals are encouraging - but they need to remember that frugality must be accompanied by practical efforts that benefit the people.
Red carpets, fruits, flowers, banners and balloons have disappeared from some conference venues for recent local legislative and political consultative sessions.
In Beijing, banquet menus have slimmed down, and the number of courses has been nearly halved in some cases, compared with previous years.
An organizer for a legislative session in the city of Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said that he expects a 20-percent reduction in conference expenditures, compared with previous years.
The new anti-pomp practices are in line with the requirements of the leaders of China's ruling party, which vowed to reject extravagance and meaningless jargon-filled speeches and reduce bureaucracy to win public trust and support.
The more economical conference arrangements are part of the country's efforts to establish clean governance, since lavish spending on official receptions is regarded as a major source of corruption and a waste of public funds.
However, the trend toward frugality is only an approach, not an end in itself. When pledging to fight extravagance, leaders have also made it clear that these efforts are intended to lead to a more down-to-earth working style.
With fewer gaudy receptions, Chinese officials will have more time and opportunities to get closer to the people and listen to their voices. This will encourage them to give more consideration to the public's demands and interests in their decision-making process.
Participants in local legislative and consultative sessions are supposed to give practical advice about local development and improving people's lives. In this respect, simplicity seems to work.
While the public has applauded officials' use of public transportation during the sessions, they have also noticed that political advisers are talking about improving public transportation networks and providing more taxis for urbanites.
Decreasing the use of taxpayer money for official meetings should mean freeing up funds for worthwhile spending.
Officials who conduct meetings and inspections that have no practical value do not deserve a single cent of taxpayers' money. Frugality on the surface and eliminating the trappings of office is no substitute for efficient government.
Red carpets, fruits, flowers, banners and balloons have disappeared from some conference venues for recent local legislative and political consultative sessions.
In Beijing, banquet menus have slimmed down, and the number of courses has been nearly halved in some cases, compared with previous years.
An organizer for a legislative session in the city of Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said that he expects a 20-percent reduction in conference expenditures, compared with previous years.
The new anti-pomp practices are in line with the requirements of the leaders of China's ruling party, which vowed to reject extravagance and meaningless jargon-filled speeches and reduce bureaucracy to win public trust and support.
The more economical conference arrangements are part of the country's efforts to establish clean governance, since lavish spending on official receptions is regarded as a major source of corruption and a waste of public funds.
However, the trend toward frugality is only an approach, not an end in itself. When pledging to fight extravagance, leaders have also made it clear that these efforts are intended to lead to a more down-to-earth working style.
With fewer gaudy receptions, Chinese officials will have more time and opportunities to get closer to the people and listen to their voices. This will encourage them to give more consideration to the public's demands and interests in their decision-making process.
Participants in local legislative and consultative sessions are supposed to give practical advice about local development and improving people's lives. In this respect, simplicity seems to work.
While the public has applauded officials' use of public transportation during the sessions, they have also noticed that political advisers are talking about improving public transportation networks and providing more taxis for urbanites.
Decreasing the use of taxpayer money for official meetings should mean freeing up funds for worthwhile spending.
Officials who conduct meetings and inspections that have no practical value do not deserve a single cent of taxpayers' money. Frugality on the surface and eliminating the trappings of office is no substitute for efficient government.
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