OPINION> Commentary
City management tips
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-28 07:32

Will Beijing residents still enjoy the life of best ever quality that they experienced during the Olympic Games? The online discussion about whether the restrictions should be lifted on motor vehicles plying every other day according to the last figure of their plates shows that this has become a concern for residents.

Statistics indicate that during the Games the city had the lowest incidence of criminal cases in eight years, the clearest sky with the cleanest air, fewest fire accidents compared with the same period in the past, the most convenient public transport, and the largest volume of passengers by subway trains but with the highest punctuality rate and the lowest rate of accidents.

Of course, all these were achieved because of some provisional measures such as larger numbers of police officers patrolling major streets, many volunteers working as public security guards, special traffic control measures, particular attention to street sanitation and suspension of construction projects citywide.

The success of the Games has left the Beijing municipal government with a great legacy for better managing this large metropolis. And this legacy may become a wealth for the rest of the country in city management.

What is noteworthy is the flexibility of public policies that the municipal government has made to cater to the needs of particular circumstances.

For example, subways were made to operate around the clock during the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, which had greatly eased the pressure on public traffic. In addition, some 20,000 volunteers were organized to help passengers in and out of the subways stations, which had reduced the chances of chaos or unnecessary congestion.

After the Games, the subway companies and relevant municipal government departments will certainly learn where to place guides for evacuation of passengers and what measures to adopt to prevent chaos during rush hours.

The 30 more fire stations and advanced fire-fighting facilities the municipal government increased before the Olympic Games will certainly continue to contribute to the city's fire prevention work.

Wherever one went during the Olympic Games, the hospitality and willingness to help that the volunteers and citizens have displayed is a sign of how well the citizens had been organized for the hosting of a successful world sporting event. And this way of organization will still be an important part for city management after the Games.

The awareness of citizenship, the most direct achievement from such ways of organization, will become a catalyst for the making of public policies in the interest of citizens and constitute an important force of supervision over the implementation of these policies.

In China, the total number of cities reached 655 and of towns to 20,000 by the end of last year, and the number of urban dwellers is expected to increase to 60 percent in 20 years from the current ratio of 45 percent. How well all these cities are managed has a great bearing on how easily city residents will lead their life and how happy they feel staying in their cities.

The upgrading of city management level in Beijing after the Games will be a great asset for the country in the years to come.

(China Daily 08/28/2008 page8)