Chinese officials find transparency cuts both ways

Transparency is a two-way window, as Chinese officials are finding out the hard way.

Even as they gradually open the blinds to let the public look in at the state of their housekeeping, they must also look out and see the shock and surprise of the public.

Secrets that officials formerly regarded as "highly classified" or "sensitive" is increasingly being aired on local government websites around the country.

Information, including fiscal budgets, official work reports and details on the families of officials, is seeing the light of day in the spreading "transparency reform".

Overtly aimed at increasing public participation in the running of local authorities, the move is also intended to fight corruption and prevent power abuse.

So far, the southern Guangdong Province is leading the way.

Xu Zhibiao, deputy mayor of provincial capital Guangzhou, who is in charge of education, science, health, culture and publications, published his work report on his achievements over the last two years on the municipal website on Nov. 5.

In Foshan, also Guangdong, the secretary of the city's Communist Party of China (CPC) committee, Lin Yunhe, mayor Chen Yunxian and deputy mayor Mai Jiehua all posted their two-year work reports on the website on Nov. 9.

Last month, Guangzhou made public the fiscal budget of all the 114 government sections, believed to be the first such disclosure by a Chinese local government.

Dongguan city, in southern Guangdong, has set up a database of the professional information of 627 officials' spouses and children.

However, the greater revelation has been the public's reaction.

Internet forums were abuzz with complaints about the lack of comment or feedback channels on the city's websites, which made public inquiries and participation impossible.

Others complained about omitted information, such as the use of public funds for receptions or official cars.

Most, however, were angered by the work reports of four senior Guangdong officials, and how they graded their own performances.

Xu Zhibiao, deputy mayor of Guangzhou, awarded himself a performance score of 98 percent. Lin Yunhe, secretary of Foshan municipal CPC committee, Foshan mayor Chen Yunxian and deputy mayor Mai Jiehua all gave themselves 97.

"With so many tough issues still troubling the province, it would be hard for officials to get even a pass score. An official who thinks that highly of himself must have no idea of the hardships of ordinary people," said a post from "Yuchan920" on www.ifeng.com under a report on Xu's "creative act of publishing his work report".

A post from "Karencheng" said: "The officials' evaluation scores should be given by the people, not themselves. Officials who know nothing about modesty cannot be good."

The story on Xu's report drew almost 200 comments, compared with other news stories that had only five to 10 comments.

At a meeting Tuesday in Guangzhou, Xu was humbled: "I feel ashamed.

"The heated comments on the Internet show my work of past two years is far from satisfactory to the public.

"All criticism, even the sharpest, is a spur to my future work, and I have read all the comments and learned from them," Xu said.

None of the other three officials has yet responded to the public fury.

On May 1 last year, the government information disclosure regulation took effect. Its ninth clause requires governments to release information vital to the interests of individuals and organizations.

Since then Shanghai has issued an implementation plan on budget publicity and promised to release revenue information monthly or quarterly, and more than 60 departments and organizations of the central government have released about 400 measures to make their affairs public.

Cai Dingjian, a constitutional law expert at the Beijing-based China University of Political Science and Law, says: "A responsible and rule-of-law government should protect the people's right to know."

Cai says local governments should explain to the public and obtain their understanding if some details not proper for publicity, Cai said.

"Although there are some weak points in Guangdong officials' new moves, they have some positive effects as well, especially in promoting less informed places to follow."

Source:Xinhua