Role of watchdog

The abolition of 71 approval items and the delegation of a further 20 to lower level governments last week were substantial moves to facilitate private investment and inject vitality into the country's economic growth.

Tightening the approval procedure chokes the development of an industry and loose administration results in chaos, so the central government has to strike a balance between reasonable administration and a simplified approval procedure.

However, there are concerns that an easier channel for investment in industrial projects could result in further environmental degradation and the excessive development of some industries.