Survey reveals public attitude toward government reform

Administrative reform, including streamlining administration and delegating power to lower levels by the central government, has won public recognition, but quite a few people also expressed concerns about resistance from departmental interests, said researchers at a May 16 seminar marking the publication of the Blue Book on Public Administration Reform 2016.

In 2015, the research group for this report launched a nationwide survey among more than 500 interviewees, mainly government officials, civil servants, enterprise managers and local community staff.

According to the survey, more than half of those interviewed are optimistic about the final result of the ministries and departments under the State Council delegating power to lower levels, although many of them are supposed to "get through the painful process" to achieve that objective.

About 75 percent of the interviewees said it is worthy to invest in e-government platforms, considering the current situation in local regions, which indicates a high recognition of the government's information- and service-oriented transition that benefits enterprises and the general public.

However, quite a few interviewees showed concerns about resistance to reform, especially from some government departments.

In answering the question "What do you think is the biggest resistance of the government's self-construction and reform?", 70 percent of respondents choose "resistance from government department interests". And about half of the interviewees said the government's efforts to improve governance abilities and reform face considerable resistance and difficulties in implementation.

Wang Yukai, a professor of public administration at the Chinese Academy of Governance and one of the report's major authors, said the result of the survey shows a majority of the interviewees hold an affirmative attitude toward government's efforts to reform and improve its functions, but the high percentage of concerns and doubts about resistance from vested interests against reform was beyond their expectation.

It reflects the difficulty and complexity of government reform, he said.

The report also offered suggestions on reforms to delegate power, streamline administration functions and optimize government services in the coming years. According to the report, the authorities should clarify the distinction between delegating power and administration, and finally achieve the transition toward a service-oriented government.