Disclosure of power lists should be accompanied by steps to solicit public opinion, he said, adding that outside the power lists, "no administrative approval is to be implemented, and no new administrative approval is to be established in violation of the rules."

The State Council, in a circular issued in February, declared that all central ministries, commissions and administrations should publish their lists of items subject to administrative approvals on their official websites in a bid to boost transparency.

Normally, the clarification and openness of government power boundaries is of milestone significance in the establishment of modern state governance. However, the government's new practice of disclosing power lists and slashing red tape will undoubtedly affect some people's vested interests. Double dealers may emerge if no corresponding rules are established and implemented.

For example, many problems emerged in past years in the process of disclosing the government spending on officials' overseas trips, the procurement and maintenance of government cars, and official receptions. Such figures have been made public, but the extent of the disclosure has fallen far short of people's expectations.

Therefore, in this new round of reform, measures must be taken to prevent possible backlashes and perfunctory attitudes and actions. For example, power lists may be disclosed, but not clearly and in sufficient detail, or with some reservations, through the creation of so-called "glass doors" [where the way ahead seems clear, but it isn't] and "spring doors" [where the way ahead seems open, but suddenly, new requirements are introduced to block progress] which has covered up power. What cannot be ruled out in the public mind is that, while old examples of red tape are removed, new ones will appear.

To avoid these problems, here are three suggestions:

First, placing disclosure of power lists onto a legal and responsible track. Second, conducting dynamic management of power lists with further cuts according to the requirements of economic and social development. Third, establishing a system where governments cannot shirk their duties in providing public services while cutting power.

Of course, the final standard for judging whether power lists are rational should be the market mechanism. It should be a case of, "no administrative approval should be imposed for those matters that can be effectively adjusted by the market, and no administrative approvals should be imposed for those matters that can be supervised later."

Only when various "spring doors" and "glass doors" are removed from the examination and approval system can governments give full play of their own functions and the market allocation of resources.

The author graduated from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, obtaining a Ph.D. in economics. He serves as a special commentator for the China Central Television (CCTV) Financial Channel.

This article was translated by Li Jingrong. Its original unabridged version was published in Chinese.

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