China Voice: Can listing powers help improve public supervision?

"It goes without saying that powers should not be held without good reason," Premier Li Keqiang said at the annual parliament session in his government work report earlier this month.

In the latest move to check capricious use of power and cut red tape, the central government published a guideline Tuesday ordering local governments to make lists of their powers open to the public.

In essence, the power list aims for an efficient government administrative system featuring clear definitions, rational divisions, and power and responsibility consistent with the law.

Publicizing the list is an important step for building a transparent government and helps the public understand the boundaries of the government's power, which in turn leads to better public supervision.

However, people cannot help but wonder whether the power list system, which has practically no precedent in the country, can achieve its end.

No doubt it will pose a big challenge for local governments since they are both the promoters and targets of the reform.

The reform will surely move the "cheese" of some agencies, but local governments will have to let go of powers that should be delegated to the market or society and properly exercise review over all items that have been delegated to them by higher-level governments.

Unclear division and overlapping functions among some government agencies or agencies at different levels have long been a headache. The ambiguity either leaves officials with too much discretion or leads to confusion for the public and enterprises.

Procedures and processes must be simplified and timeframes must be clarified for all items requiring administrative review.

Administrative powers that have no legal basis or contradict existing laws should be scrapped and all powers to be retained will be reviewed based on legitimacy, rationality and necessity.

The boundaries of power should be nailed down to make sure that anything the law does not authorize is not done and all duties and functions assigned by law are performed.

Another thing that should be noted is that listing powers should not be used as an excuse by government agencies for administrative inaction.

That is why the government needs not only a power list, but an accountability list to prevent governments from exercising excessive power or shying away from their responsibilities. Endi