Society

Public wants cheaper services: Survey 

By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-26 08:21

GUANGZHOU - People in the southern province of Guangdong want the government to tighten its monitoring and supervision of public service sectors in the hope that such changes will drive down prices, according to a new survey.

Respondents to the opinion poll would also like the government to spend more to improve the overall development of public service industries.

The survey was conducted by the Guangdong Situation Research Center under the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences between October and January.

Some 3,500 respondents took part in the survey.

Up to half of respondents complained that charges in the banking and telecommunications industries were too high as well as in industries that supply water, gas and oil.

"As a result, they are calling on the government to introduce effective measures to stabilize prices in the service sector, which are of great significance to daily life," said Zheng Zizhen, director of the committee of experts affiliated with the center.

The survey gauged the opinions of residents about electricity, water, gas and oil, telecommunications, transport, the postal service, banking, insurance and tourism.

The supply of electricity drew the highest ratings, while transport got the lowest marks.

"It shows that people are not satisfied with transport development," Zheng said. "There should be more improvement in the sector."

For example, up to 60 percent of the respondents said they still find it difficult to buy train tickets, especially during the busy Spring Festival season.

Residents would also like to see changes in the investment and financial sectors in a bid to develop a new and effective competitive market, according to the survey.

About half of the respondents said the rail system and the oil, gas, water and electricity industries should be opened up to more private investment.

"An effective competitive system is of great importance to stabilizing the price of services," Zheng said.

Chen Ruping, a farmer in Shaoguan, a city in northern Guangdong province, said the price of gas and oil is now far too high.

"All the prices seem to have jumped up," said Chen. "We have little choice in where we can buy gas. If I can buy it the same way as I can buy a cake, it would be better."