When the Shanghai People's Congress opens tomorrow, new deputy Hong Gang hopes he will be able to do something to help his constituency, migrant workers.
'I hope it can better link ordinary people and government officials,' the shipyard worker said
But his idealism is likely to come up against political reality. The government hand-picked Mr Hong and hundreds of other congress deputies and they are expected to rubber-stamp decisions already made.
The congress allows government leaders to chart the course of the city for the coming year. But the drama this year surrounds a leadership shuffle, which could bring several new vice-mayors and possibly even a new mayor, though Han Zheng might simply be confirmed again.
Shanghai has had three Communist Party secretaries since the removal of Chen Liangyu for corruption in September 2006, after he was sacked for diverting money from the city's pension fund. More than 25 government and state company officials have been implicated in the scandal.
Chen is awaiting trial, but the meeting is unlikely to offer clues about his fate, beyond pledges to fight corruption. Shanghai's new party secretary, Yu Zhengsheng, outlined the '10 Nos' for officials this week, including taking bribes and abuse of power.
In an annual work report, Mr Han is expected to announce Shanghai's 16th year of double-digit economic growth. Gross domestic product rose by 12 per cent in 2006 and last year's growth is forecast to surpass the government's target of 9 per cent, despite pledges to stress the quality of growth instead of its speed.
