Residents have say in congress ( 2004-01-07 09:58) (China Daily)
Guangzhou residents are getting a bigger say in city affairs as the city
becomes more democratic.
In December, residents got the chance to tell officials about their problems
and expectations at a "landmark"hearing of the Municipal People's Congress.
"The hearing embodied the long-term attempts of the congress to become more
effective,'' said Professor Liu Heng, an expert in public administration at
Zhongshan University.
The congress arranged the hearing as part of an improvement drive hoping to
increase the say of "the masses"in government, said Yang Yuquan,
secretary-general of the congress"standing committee.
The meeting was the latest example of the "Guangzhou Phenomenon"
revolutionary changes in the city's government.
Li Jiangtao, an expert with the Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences, said
the "phenomenon"was caused by the city's economic development.
The "phenomenon"began in 1998 when the congress set up a system to examine
its operations. Eight well-known judges were recruited as consultants to the
scheme.
The congress has undergone several major changes since.
In 2002 it started using electronic devices to vote. It was the first city in
China to do so.
Last December, residents were asked to take part in a hearing on the city's
environmental legislation.
Their views are already affecting policy decisions, experts said.
Citizen representatives, representatives from the municipal people's
congress, related government officials and local reporters attended the event.
The latest hearing will have the most "far-reaching'' impact on the congress,
said Yang.
