Red tape has some Chinese seeing red

“Utterly ridiculous,” state media quoted Mr Li as saying. “I wonder if these departments care for the public or are intentionally obstructing them.”

The bureaucratic stumbling blocks are partly local governments and agencies. The authority to certify gives them power and allows them to be seen as more important among fellow government agencies. Certification is also a significant source of revenue, experts say.

Public administration expert Liu Junsheng said that although the government has made “significant” strides in cutting red tape, many of the cancelled items are related to business, to give the slowing economy a boost.

Ordinary Chinese have yet to feel the policy’s impact. But Mr Liu cautions against a broad-brush approach to cutting red tape.

“It is important to look at sectors. For areas like food safety or pollution concerns, we need stricter regulations and more approvals instead.”

— Asia one Asia