Regions must disclose public spending: govt

The State Council on Wednesday issued a circular to push forward government information disclosure in nine categories, attached with a detailed timetable.

The information revelation on the spending of public funds, as well as environmental assessment and investigation reports of major work safety accidents, is to prioritize transparency of public affairs, especially those with high public concerns and enhance government credibility, said the circular.

The amount and usage of government spending on receptions, vehicles and overseas trips, or the "three public consumptions," have long been criticized.

Although the central government has repeatedly requested disclosure of such expenditure, some government departments have resisted or delayed.

The circular orders that provincial governments make public their detailed spending of public funds starting from this year, while the deadline set for the city and county governments is in 2015.

In 2011, central government departments for the first time published their figures on their expenditure in 2010.

Meanwhile, the circular requests all investigation reports on major work safety accidents should be made fully public from 2014.

"The central authorities have realized the importance of keeping up with the public's growing awareness of transparency and push for change, especially when many agencies are still treating public requests carelessly or refusing to disclose under the excuse of confidentiality or give vague replies," Han Fuzheng, a Hebei-based lawyer who has made several information disclosure requests, told the Global Times.

"The key is to set up a detailed system, as currently there's no clear standard but only general categories to determine what should be disclosed, and what punitive measures would be given should they violate the rule," said Han.

Global Times - Xinhua