More budget transparency

It is better to be late than never. This is the attitude most people hold toward the disclosures by central government departments of their spending on trips overseas, receptions and the procurement and maintenance of motor vehicles.

Despite the requirement by the State Council that they must publish such information by the end of June, only a few departments have done so, and the release of general figures of their spending in the three areas does little to meet the needs for transparency and the expectations of taxpayers.

The central government disclosed its spending in the three areas as 9.47 billion yuan ($1.46 billion) in 2010. But most of its ministries and other departments are still reluctant to follow suit. The message is that talking about government transparency is one thing, but actually putting all its spending in the spotlight is another.