'Voices of the people don't speak for masses'
A storm of media and public criticism has erupted in Guangzhou over the failure of public representatives to voice community opposition to proposed water price rises.
At a public hearing earlier this week, just two of 35 'public deputies' opposed plans by the Guangzhou Price Control Administration to gradually lift water rates. In a survey conducted by the Southern Metropolis News after the hearing, only 10 of 70 people polled agreed with the move.
One of the 'public deputies' who opposed the increases, Guangzhou Consumer Council director He Jianan, said he could not understand the outcome.
The contrast between public opinion and the hearing's result has raised questions about how representative the deputies are.
Guangzhou media quoted some members of the public as saying there were too many participants from government and too few representing the poor.
Guangzhou Price Control Administration spokesman Wu Linbo said the deputies were selected according to the regulations and based on community and work unit recommendations.
One person who took part in the hearing said the deputy lists were probably provided by the monopoly Guangzhou Water Supply Company, the agency backing the price rises.
The source also said the deputies had met before the hearing for a 'preliminary meeting' and that a banquet had been organised by the price control administration and the water supply company.
During the meeting, deputies opposed to the increases were pressed to change their opinions.
'It is only a show of false democracy and a way to fool the public,' the source said.
The source also said the chief of the water supply company had called the Southern Metropolis News yesterday to protest against the paper's 'negative report'.
Mr He declined to comment further yesterday.
It is not the first time that hearings have drawn public criticism. A hearing this month on fee increases for digital television services generated similar disquiet.
Guangzhou People's Congress delegate Yang Chenghua told a local newspaper: 'Several hearings held in Guangzhou recently were all mere formalities'.
Dong Jianxin , professor of public administrative management at Jinan University, said the hearing system had flaws, but it was better than no system at all.
Professor Dong said there should be a set of detailed deputy selection standards to choose 'real public deputies'.
He said hearings should be organised by a neutral party such as the people's congress.
'If we continue to turn hearings into a formality, the public will totally lose confidence in hearings - even confidence in the government.'
On Tuesday, the National People's Congress held its first public hearing to solicit views on amendments to income tax law.
