WARNING against ballooning bureaucracy, which costs China billions of dollars every year in so-called "official consumption? a political adviser recently called for a new round of government streamlining focused on cutting the number of leading officials.
"Now every 26 ordinary citizens in China have to support one official, while spending on government cars, reception fees and official training or tours abroad have reached staggering levels,?said Ren Yuling, a member of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body.
Although the country has undertaken several rounds of streamlining of government bureaucracy, Ren, who is from South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, believes they have not achieved the effects intended.
In 1979, the number of officials at different levels in China was about 2.79 million, while by 1997 it had grown to 8 million. Relevant authorities estimate that of China's 1.3 billion population, China has as many as 45.72 million people on the payrolls of central and local governments. In addition, some 5 million more are in institutions which are supported by administrative power granted by the government.
According to Ren, the current 1:26 officials-per-citizen ratio was 306 times higher than that in the Western Han Dynasty period (206 BC - AD 24) and 35 times higher than that at the end of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911).
"Just 10 years ago, the ratio was 'only? at the 1:40 level,?he noted.
Accompanying the huge number of officials is equally huge official consumption. Expenses on government cars, receptions and tours or training abroad amount to 300 billion yuan (US$36.1 billion), 200 billion yuan (US$24.1 billion) and 250 billion yuan (US$30.1 billion) respectively each year.
"Most of the money is spent by leading cadres at various levels,?Ren noted. The rapid expansion of bureaucracy has not only led to a huge waste of money, but also become a hotbed for corruption.
"It is imperative to launch another round of government streamlining, but this time the focus should be on cutting the number of leading officials,?he suggested.
"The continuous increase in the number of positions for leading cadres is the main cause of the expansion of government and the increase of its staffing levels.? (Star News)
