Hou Xinyi, CPPCC National Committee member and Director of the Center of Modern Legal Study, Tianjin University of Finance and Economics:

Right after assuming office, the current government promised to delegate administrative examination and approval power. Three years later, the promise has been fulfilled and the goal exceeded. Nearly 37 percent of all items once subject to the administrative examination and approval of the Central Government have been delegated to lower-level governments for examination and approval.

To prevent delegated power from becoming recentralized, central government departments have been told to publish a list of their powers for public oversight. Another measure is transparency in government administration. The government is much more transparent and the Government Work Report said this year, government affairs will be more so, and violators will be held accountable.

However, while the government work report has responded to some legal issues of public concern, it has neglected some other issues. For instance, while the government is delegating power, it is also expanding its power in some aspects. Some local governments have infringed upon citizens’ private lives on the pretext of cultivating Party work style and building a clean government.

Some nurses were punished for playing mahjong after work, and some teachers disciplined for dining together in restaurants during holidays, even though they paid out of their own pockets. In some places, public employees are forbidden to drink alcohol at home after work. This is not right as it tramples on the rule of law. Public power and citizens’ rights should be clearly distinguished. The Central Government should pay close attention to such infringements [of citizens’ rights].