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Oversight of approval process

Updated: Aug 29,2014 10:43 AM     China Daily

An essential part of government authority in China lies in the long lists and complicated procedures for matters subject to examination and approval. A logical and necessary component of government reforms is streamlining those lists and procedures. But like reforms in any other field, vested interests will not give up without a fight.

Premier Li Keqiang’s alert about the “obsession with examination and approval” hit the right note because it is a clear and present threat to ongoing reforms. The murky links between “intermediate organizations” and government agencies reveal a prevailing tendency to continue controlling and profiting from examination and approval procedures.

Since many matters previously subject to government scrutiny are now relegated to “third-party” institutions for professional and industry review and certification, many such “intermediate institutions” affiliated to or with close ties with government departments are the new overseers. The only difference is they operate in the name of non-governmental organizations and can charge more. Which is why many citizens and enterprises complain things have not become any less troublesome after the government divested itself of some of these matters.

If this becomes standard practice, it may reduce the new round of government reforms into self-deceiving bureaucratic posturing. Worse, it could provide a legal cover for the pursuit of illegal gains, and provide a new safe haven for corruption.

The rampancy and prevalence of corruption in public offices have proven that public power in this country is as vulnerable to abuse as anywhere else. It should now be obvious to all that individual greed and departmental interests inside the government have combined to present a substantial threat to both government credibility and national interests.

Given the public resources at their disposal, however, it is particularly difficult to make Chinese government agencies surrender true authority to society; especially as such authority promises opportunities for personal profit.

From organizational and technical perspectives, divesting government offices from examination and approval is simple. Yet it is a greater challenge to wean them from the illicit benefits arising from them. Local government offices are notorious for inventing countermeasures to dodge regulatory moves.

Priority No 1 at this point, therefore, is to sort out the connections between government offices and the non-administrative institutions affiliated to them, enhance oversight, and make sure the reform is carried out as intended.

Other Views

Overcome resistance of interests

In order to be effective in the long term, the authorities should strictly follow the rule of law in streamlining administrative procedures and delegating power. That requires an updating of the Administrative Licensing Law, and strictly prohibiting local governments and agencies from “inventing” unauthorized administrative licensing programs.

Ma Huaide, professor at China University of Political Science and Law, Legal Daily, Aug 28

The central government has issued one reform policy after another but they are often distorted in implementation. The key problem lies in governments at the lower levels, where officials explain the policies in their own favor and refuse to change. More supervision and special training are needed to make sure the lower governments implement reform policies to the letter.

rmzxb.com.cn, Aug 28

While delegating power to lower branches, the State Council can better concentrate on supervision, especially on urgent issues such as people’s health, people’s legal rights and fair market competition. In 2013 alone, environmental protection departments handed to judicial branches more cases than all those over the previous 10 years, while medicine and food supervision departments also need restructuring.

People’s Daily, Aug 28

Of all the measures adopted at the recent State Council meeting, the most creative must be the introduction of third-party evaluation of the progress of reform. That means social organizations have a greater role to play. But at the same time, many social organizations used to be affiliated to government agencies, with interest relations remaining even after they were separated. More efforts are needed to make social organizations truly independent.

china.com.cn, Aug 28

Many applaud the move to delegate power, but it is too early to be optimistic because the move will actually hurt some officials’ interests and their resistance is inevitable. For example, they might delay its implementation, or make trouble for programs that no longer have to get their approval. It will take time to fully implement policies such as the delegation of power.

China Business News, Aug 27