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Right kind of public hearing

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-03 07:37

We should not hold a hearing just for the sake of formality but for the sake of its capability of fairly and openly solving problems, says an article in Market News. The following is an excerpt:

The government held a hearing yesterday to discuss the pricing of a one-way ticket of the subway line to the airport, which is soon to be put in use. Two tentative price options appear: one is 25 yuan ($3.8), other is 30 yuan ($4.4).

Though the final decision is yet do be taken, we hope the hearing can serve its purpose of soliciting public opinion.

The recent years have witnessed more and more public hearings before important decision-making that concerns public interest.

Checking into the backgrounds of these delegates, we can find three parties - the corporation that offers products and services of public utilities, the public that is going to buy the products and services and the government that stand in between as an arbitrator. In the hearing, the government plays the role of organization, arbitration and witness. The number of delegates that come from the side of the government should not be too large.

An influential and effective hearing must be able to answer the following questions: how to select delegates fairly, equally and openly; how to ensure the hearing is representative and scientific; how can delegates fully command the information before a hearing; can the results of a hearing be put into practice without interference. When the above questions are satisfactorily answered can the hearing system be true to its name.

(China Daily 07/03/2008 page8)