Beijing car buyers question fairness of number plate lottery
Fairness of number plate lottery system questioned after same name wins it seven straight times
Voices are being openly raised among potential car buyers and the media about the need for more trustworthy government officials after the same name won in seven consecutive rounds of the capital's number plate lottery.
reported on Thursday that a record 1.26 million residents competed for fewer than 20,000 plates this month. "Liu Xuemei" was so lucky that the person - or perhaps people - won two plates in May. Cynical car-plate hunters wondered if they should change their name to stand a better chance in the next contest.
Eagle-eyed internet users soon discovered Liu Xuemei was the name of the director of the vehicle and driver management department of the Ministry of Public Security. Liu Xuemei, in her 30s, is in charge of drafting rules for vehicle permits.
Beijing launched the car lottery in 2010 as a way to reduce car ownership and cut down on traffic congestion. Normally a Beijing resident must wait a relatively long time to get a plate. interviewed a local resident who said "it's extraordinary" for the same person to be among the lottery winners for seven consecutive months. He had entered the contest 18 times without success.
The People's Daily Online quoted another resident who had also "repeatedly " failed to secure a plate, saying anyone who wanted a licence should change his name to "Liu Xuemei".
An official explanation came out the same day. The traffic control department told the fundamental concept of the lottery was "fairness" and applicants often had identical names. Over 75 people called "Liu Xuemei" had entered the contest over the years.
Liu Xuemei from the traffic administration office denied the accusations later that day on Sina's microblog service.
"It is like I have been randomly shot by a bullet as I lay on the ground. I can understand it if it's merely a good-natured joke. But if somebody has a malicious purpose, I will resort to laws to protect myself," she wrote on her verified account.
The picked up on her phrase: "Liu Xuemei shot while lying down" said one headline. The article said the accusation had been an understandable mistake. "The anger of car-plate hunters is almost inevitable, and these people want to vent and express their frustration at such a lottery system."
It posed a question: "Why does the public suspect bureaucratic murkiness when it sees something extraordinary? It is because there are too many regulations coming down from the top level, and the government loves to use its power to fix everything."
The ran an article that said a computer-savvy engineer could easily cheat the lottery.
"The discussion shows the envy of those whose right to buy a car is limited. Some question the fairness of the game … If the relevant sectors cannot guarantee a fair game, they will lose credibility … Watchdogs should assure the public there was no cheating."
The in Sichuan ran an article under the headline "Hoping the lucky 'Liu' is just a coincidence". It argued the only way to reassure a sceptical public was for the government to be more open and transparent.
"We have to put everything that the public cares about in a glass house … only then can we can really cheer and applaud the lucky Liu," the paper said.
The echoed the sentiment, saying the public did not believe "good luck" happened to ordinary people.
"Those administrative departments in charge of public resources normally reserve 'good luck' for those few who are in power. That deprives the public of the right to enjoy what they actually deserve for free. The chance that good luck happens without the influence of the powers that be is zero."
