Public Opinion for the Greater Good

THERE was no public information on the work of the Chinese government, other than reports compiled within the administration itself, prior to the mid-1980s. And it was only in the 1990s that public opinion polls and market research began to be conducted by legally registered non-governmental organizations. There are now departments within the government whose specific purpose is to evaluate proposed government action and recent achievements. Policy research is carried out on the basis of public opinion polls.     

Public Policy in the Asian Century

正AS premier of Victoria I often had the privilege of welcoming foreign business and government delegations to our state.Many were from Asian countries,and I was frequently struck by their deep interest in the way government works in our country–how the states relate to the Commonwealth,how the public service relates to the executive,and how public policy is made and implemented.     

Education for Migrant Children To Be Guaranteed

Urged by media and advocates, Beijing and many other Chinese cities have issued regulations to provide and guarantee basic education for migrant laborers' children. The municipal govemment of Beijing has decided that beginning in September, public schools in the Chinese capital should become more open to eligible migrant children by lowering the charges, and qualified social organizations and individuals will be allowed to run schools for migrant children in migrant population communities in light of the standard of average local public schools.     

Delegation of Zimbabwean Ministry of Local Government Visits China

Dr. I. M. C. Chombo, minister of local government, public works and urban development of Zimbabwe, visited Beijing, Wuxi and Shanghai as the head of a delegation from March 17 to 24 at the invitation of the CPAFFC.     

Should Urban Parks Charge an Entrance Fee?

The municipal government of Beijing decided to add 12 parks and six museums to the list of free public facilities as of July 1. The revenue loss from the new policy will be covered by municipal and district governments to ensure regular operation and maintenance of the facilities.     

The Battle Against the Novel Coronavirus Requires All Layers of Society

The outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV)came at a special time of the year in China,during the Spring Festival,the most important traditional holiday for Chinese.In order to curb the spread of the virus,the Chinese Government and all of Chinese society have mobilized,with the government making overall arrangements for staff and resource distribution,doctors and nurses fighting the outbreak round the clock,and the public being cooperative and helpful.In the time since the outbreak was made public,many people have expressed their views and hopes from different perspectives.     

WEEKLY WATCH

OPINION Online Opinion or Public Opinion? China's cyberspace was stirred up recently by a statement made by Fan Gang, a famed Chinese economist. "The majority of farmers and migrant workers don't surf the Internet, so the opinion of netizens doesn't equal the opinion of the general public...online opinions shouldn't drive government decision-making," Fan said. China has more than 100 million netizens of its total population of 1.3 billion, and what can be closer to the public opinion in the country than the voices of 100 million people? Besides, many of these people have friends or relatives who are farmers and migrant workers. So far, many of the online opinions, such as those against corruption or seeking social justice, are expressed not only on behalf of netizens but also for the farmers and migrant workers who can't make their voices heard because they don't surf the net. The Internet is a new platform for people to express themselves. On this point, the Internet has much merit, and so do China's netizens. Online opinions may be references for government decision-making, but in fact, no government would design policy simply by following the public opinion. Decision-making is a scientific process and listening to online opinions is only one way to hear all parties. People's Daily Hua Dong News     

Will the Evaluation System Improve Government Services?

The General Office of the State Council recently issued a document proposing the establishment of a government service evaluation system,which will allow businesses and the public to judge if services are up to scratch.     

Redefining Public Institutions China plans to have fewer public institutions that offer better social services

On April 16,Xinhua News Agency released a set of draft guidelines outlining future reforms of public institutions for feedback about one year after a similar draft was circulated intemally among China's central government departments.The reform is nothing less than an upheaval to China's public sector.The country has 12.6 million public institutions that employ around 30 million people and the reform roadmap promises changes to how public institutions manage and insure their employees,share profits,pay tax and the way they are structured.     

Children’s Rights Protection Enters New Stage in China

The State Council of China issued the national Program onthe Development of Children(2011-2020)on July 30,2011,outlining new targets and new measuresby the government in promoting under-takings concerning children.     

Another Curb for Government Car Consumption

正In February China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a draft list of vehicles for government purchase.According to this draft,vehicles for official use must be chosen from domestic branded products,and even joint-venture brands are not included in the list. In China,government departments and institutions for public affairs have budgets to     

Decentralizing Power

正Tighter restrictions are imposed on the heads of Party and government departments By Yin Pumin China’s anti-graft authority announced on May 8 that Liao Shaohua,former Standing Committee member of the Guizhou Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC)and Party chief of Zunyi in Guizhou,has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office.     

Full Coverage

Plan for public services expected to substantially improve the wellbeing of people at various stages of life A person’s life is divided into three periods:childhood,adulthood and old age,and a new plan makes arrangement for public services people need in all the three periods.The 14th Five-Year Plan(2021-25)for public services,jointly released on January 10 by 21 government departments,including the National Development and Reform Commission(NDRC),has set new goals in areas such as education,housing and senior care.     

Innovation in Governance

正The government explores methods of public service provision by allowing more NGO participation and better understanding of individuals' needs More than two decades ago,Zhang Kun,a 65-year-old businessman and former teacher in Dongguan City,Guangdong Province,embarked on a philanthropic journey to help poor children. In 1988,Zhang came across a letter from a poor student seeking financial help to finish     

WEEKLY WATCH

OPINION Spend the Money on the People A recent survey shows that 79.9 percent of respondents are eager to see the new health care reform scheme be launched soon, and 58.7 percent of them believe that the key of the reform is to actually spend the money provided by the government for the purpose of public health on the people.     

Preserving The Past

The government and the public are both working hard to protect China’s cultural relics Xingjiao Temple in Xi’an,capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province,was built about 1,300 years ago.It houses the relics of Xuan Zang,a famous Buddhist monk and Chinese pilgrim to India during the seventh     

Independent Innovation Is a Must

The importance of independent innovation has been recognized by the Chinese Government and the public. The 11 th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) sets the enhancement of China's capability of independent innovation and the creation of an innovation-driven growth mode as the national strategy that is required to be integrated into every aspect of society. "Independent innovation" was also a key word in Premier Wen Jiabao's report on government work at the recent session of the National People's Congress, the top legislature, and the     

TAKING THE LONG VIEW

正Longterm policies are key to overcoming the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on job market The novel coronavirus disease(COVID-19) epidemic halted many business activities and put downward pressure on the economy. Rising unemployment in hard-hit regions has become a major concern to the public and the government.     

CHILD LABOR DISGRACE

The Shanxi Province child labor scandal has shocked China to its core. Over 1,000 children were forced into illegal labor by morally bankrupt brick kiln businesses, throwing a depressing shroud over China's rapid development. Uncovering these tales of abduction, death and the physical and mental abuse endured by these children has been a proud moment for China's press. Several hundred of the kiln slave children have now been reunited with their families. Kiln owners, contractors and accomplices are being brought to justice or hunted down, some even charged with murder.However, in all this gloom some good has surfaced.Public and government attention is now focused on erasing child labor once and for all and for better protecting workers' rights, hopefully ridding China of such disgraces in the future.     

Focus

Personal Information Protection Law Under Legislative Procedure Following the recently-promulgated E-signature Law, a Personal Information Protection Law is currently undergoing the legislative process. The law aims to protect Internet users' privacy, and their personal information, such as phone numbers, addresses and professions. The law also encompasses regulations governing the use of closed-circuit television cameras in public places and the abuse of video recording equipment in private investigations. In addition, regulations on the publishing of government information and an information security law are soon to be promulgated.