Blazing the trail

The Shenzhen government recently released an outline of its reform programme to solicit views from the community. It emphasises reforms of the political system, democracy and elections, and proposes direct elections of deputies to the district people's congresses, and competition in the election of the mayor. Shenzhen leaders are offering a comprehensive reform programme for the city, covering political, administrative, economic, cultural and social aspects. Most noticeable is that the city's leadership is according priority to political reform in the near future.

In promoting democratic elections at the grass-roots level, Shenzhen leaders plan to introduce competition into the elections of district heads and deputy district heads in the district people's congresses.

They hope that the experience will provide the foundation for the introduction of competition in the mayoral election. For the election of deputies, there would be direct elections in some constituencies when by-elections occur, or in the next full round of elections.

In the past decade or so, Shenzhen leaders have been enthusiastic about promoting political reforms. In early 1999, a system of voters' recommendations for candidates was introduced in the election of the Dapeng town head, in Longgang district. It was a significant breakthrough that attracted much attention, both domestically and internationally.

Shenzhen leaders want to be national pioneers not only in economic reforms, but in political ones, as well. This ambition involves substantial commitment.

I was invited to witness the Dapeng town head election experiment in 1999 as an external academic observer. Journalists covered the event, but no reports appeared. Some top leaders in Beijing are said to have severely criticised the innovative attempt. In the end, they decided not to openly overrule the experiment - just ban it from being reported. It is obvious that local leaders who initiate such political reform experiments face considerable risks. Fortunately, over the past decade or so, leaders in Beijing have been adopting a fairly liberal attitude and have not imposed sanctions on these pioneering cadres.

This tolerance has provided encouragement. And, apparently, Beijing welcomes this effect. In the era of economic reforms and opening up, Chinese leaders want to foster an innovative spirit among local cadres.