A push for transparency

IN SPITE OF ALL THE PROGRESS MADE SINCE THE Regulations on Government Information Disclosure came into effect on May 1, 2008, the fact is that obtaining information from government agencies remains a major challenge for individual citizens in this country.

The regulations stipulate that government offices have an obligation to publish all information regarding the institution and its operation, with the exception of properly defined "secrets". However, few of them have honored that obligation in the past three years. Even those that have reluctantly done so have shilly-shallied about what people are truly concerned about.

The reports on san gong expenses, public money spent on buying and maintaining vehicles, overseas trips and receptions, for instance, are, without exception, vague and devoid of substance.