Channels should be provided for the public to express their opinions, says an article in Beijing News. An excerpt follows:

The transportation bureau of Chongqing revealed on Saturday that its senior officials will take turns going to work by bus instead of by government car.

A deputy director of the bureau spent one hour and five minutes on a bus to cover the distance he usually travels in 20 minutes by car. The official then said it is really hard for ordinary people to take buses to work.

Frankly speaking, this should not be a headline. According to related regulations, this deputy director has no qualification to use special government cars to travel to and from work. Also, as a transportation official, he should often take buses to know the real situation and listen to public opinions. When the government is advocating bus rides to ease urban congestion, transportation officials in particular should take the lead.

It is reported that these officials' bus rides were inspired by a serious accident that occurred when a bus fell off a bridge in Chongqing earlier this month, killing 29 and wounding more. Without this shock, transportation officials might still go to work in the special government cars.

In reality, not many senior officials are taking buses to work.

Every civil servant should enhance the concept of serving the public as a code of conduct, a basic ability and a daily habit.

Public administrators should know the real situation of public life. All officials should participate often in real life as common citizens, not escorted bosses. Only by doing this can the officials know the difficulties of the public.

Officials should not only take the bus, but also take the initiative to solicit public opinions. There are millions of people taking buses, but their problems cannot all be met by the officials on the bus. Furthermore, it is a question whether this action will be implemented for long.

So the government should set up a regular platform to let citizens' voices be heard. There should be a public forum to let people speak out.

Hong Kong's experience can be borrowed here. The renowned City Forum, a live public debate, has been shown on TV every Sunday since 1980. Experts, members of the Legislative Council and government officials participate to discuss hot topics, while citizens at the site can express their opinions as well.

(China Daily October 25, 2006)