OPINION> Commentary
A good system can do it best
By Chong Zi (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-12 08:10

Mobile phone users in Jiangxi province got an unexpected text with the numbers of their governor and vice-governor. They were told that they could reach the province's two heavyweights if they found irregularities in the low-rent and affordable houses markets. The two had their phones flooded with incoming calls because the local residents wanted to see whether they were accessible. Seemingly, the two officials were ready to look into the hardships of the local residents.

But the idea was not novel. Earlier this year Qiu He, Party chief of Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, asked for all the numbers of heads of the local Communist Party and government departments to be published. Also, hotlines set up by government institutions were innumerable. Jiangxi's governor and vice-governor were the highest in ranking and have invited curiosity and interest from the local residents and busybodies outside. We have no idea whether the two numbers are specially set for this purpose. Having made their numbers public, the two government officials dare to "talk" to the local people calmly and confidently. This alone earns them salute and applause. Wait. One more question that is not that peachy. Why does the issue have to count on the two officials? It is unrealistic to leave the problems in the hands of some officials. When the system is sound, we will find the right place to pour out our woes.

* * *

How high can a ferris wheel be? And how long can it keep itself as the world's highest? Whatever. Several experts suggested that Hainan province at the country's southern tip build the world's highest ferris wheel. With the race for the highest tower throughout the world, a new game is brewing. What is the wheel for? A better view of the sea and the sand beaches? The experts believed that the wheel could help the island attract tourists just like London Eye and the copycats in many parts of the world. Hainan had better turn to Chinese cities for advice rather than offshore metropolises. The large wheels that some Chinese cities have built have failed to lure viewers.

* * *

It is never too late to mend. A redeveloped part of Qianmen near the Tiananmen Square opened to the public the night before the opening of the Olympic Games. The neighborhood has the gray-brick storefronts with red and gold curved eaves - the look of traditional Chinese architecture. The street is now re-crammed with traditional Chinese brand names including roast duck, tea house and hotpot. This was a bustling area in imperial days, with brothels, opium dens and shops peddling cures, calligraphy and silk. Sure, the redevelopment project has set aside no space for the harmful things but helped to restore the feel of old Beijing. While more and more hutong - old alleyways - are giving way to new residential buildings, the remedial approach like the one in Qianmen may work no small wonders for the city.

* * *

"If our team beats the US Dream Team 8, I would quit," said NBA center Yao Ming before their first match Sunday night. Thank goodness, his teammates did not play that well to make it happen.

* * *

While their sports men and women compete for medals in Beijing, Russia and Georgia are exchanging fire. The ancient Games featured an Olympic truce, during which time no wars were fought. People of modern times care less about this.

(China Daily 08/12/2008 page10)