Too much red tape earns telling off from police

An employee at the administration for industry and commerce in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, explains corporate registration procedures to company representatives. All companies will have to provide more information to regulators on an annual basis. [Photo/China Daily]

A police station in Loudi, Central China's Hunan province, reportedly rebuked the local civil affairs bureau on Wednesday for demanding that a 68-year-old resident obtain a redundant police certificate when she applied for a new senior citizen pass. In a statement enclosed with the requested certificate, the police urged the civil affairs officials to abide by the central government's call to reduce red tape. Comments:

To improve their public service, government departments should communicate and coordinate with each other more often, not forge interest-oriented alliances that make things difficult for ordinary people. That being said, they should resort to moderate mutual criticism and suggestions, and reflect more upon their problems to prevent other departments from making the same mistakes.

Beijing News, Aug 6

The major reason why some local authorities are obsessed with irrelevant certificates is they are afraid of being held responsible if something goes wrong in the procedures. Those certificates may be only an excuse for them to shirk their responsibilities, yet they cause more difficulties for residents and other departments. The Loudi police station's statement, to some extent, shows its praiseworthy attempt to fight such redundant bureaucry and protect the public's interests.

dahe.cn, Aug 6

It requires administrative orders from the top down, as well as public supervision from the bottom up, to improve government services. Yet peer supervision and criticism between departments could occupy the area inbetween and be effective in breaking down obstructive officialdom and optimizing the work of officials.

Information Times, Aug 6

When it comes to administrative ranking, the Loudi civil affairs bureau is above the police station, which makes the latter's written criticism toward the former even more noteworthy. It proves the civil affairs authorities did give the senior citizen a hard time when she tried to obtain a new senior citizen pass, triggering public anger as well as the police station's rare complaint. It also shows that slowly, but steadily, mainstream social values which uphold social justice and public interests on the basis of the law are gaining momentum.

Xinhua Daily Telegraph, Aug 6