Sense of duty needed in CPPCC members
China Daily  Updated: 2006-03-14 05:51

The curtain fell yesterday on the fourth session of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). The talking may be over, but the action is just beginning.

The 2,000-plus members must now immerse themselves in investigation and research into practical problems.

The CPPCC plays an important advisory role putting forward suggestions and lodging complaints concerning the formulation and implementation of State policies of all kinds.

These suggestions and complaints are collected as formal proposals at the annual session, and then sent to relevant State departments for consideration when revising certain policies or addressing a particular problem.

During the latest session, the committee received 5,030 proposals. Of these, 4,898, or 97 per cent, will be dealt with by relevant State institutions. A mechanism makes sure that the members will be informed of how their proposals have impacted on certain policies or particular issues.

The way in which a member conducts investigation and research makes a difference to the quality of the proposal he or she puts forward. The proposals are built on the enthusiasm of the members for their duties, and the efforts they have devoted to the process of fulfilling them.

One example is the story of a member from Fujian Province, who spotted on the Internet a suggestion from a former leader of a coal mine on addressing problems concerning development of the industry, miners and mine accidents. He immediately dialled the phone number of the man and discussed the issue at length. He then set about collecting data on the issue, and finally put forward his proposal.

This is how a member gets an idea and develops it into a proposal. Of course, other members may make their proposals by conducting on-the-spot investigations or by analyzing documents.

The proposals voice the concerns of people from different walks of life about State affairs, and therefore the quality of the proposals matters significantly to the role of the CPPCC in the country's political system.

With higher expectations of the role from members of the public, the CPPCC is working harder to cultivate awareness of this among its members.

It has, for the first time in its history, made it public that 168 members were absent from this session without even asking for leave. Their names will be made public.

These members have violated the CPPCC rule that says any member who cannot attend the session for any reason must give notice in advance.

Their absence without notification suggests that they do not care about the session and about their positions as members of the advisory body. It also highlights their lack of a sense of responsibility for their role advising on State affairs on behalf of the group of people they represent.

These members, whose names will be made public, will feel public pressure to make them think seriously how they should perform their duties as a CPPCC member, and whether they are qualified to be a member.

If they do not think they are up to the task, they should quit and leave the position to those who can perform these important duties. If they think they are a qualified advisor, they should actively participate in the annual session.

They have to make the choice.

The CPPCC has made a correct choice cultivating among its members a sense of duty, in order to promote the function of the advisory body as a whole.

(China Daily 03/14/2006 page4)

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