Sunshine Act, The Premier Had a Dream

Premier Wen Jiabao stated that he would want to see the enacting of a Sunshine Act when he chatted with Chinese Netizens. A Feb 19 article published in the People's Daily mentioned a Sunshine Act had been formally sitting in the legislature pipeline since 1994. However, communist officials opposed the measure. To be precise, 97% of government officials are against the act. This is the only official number we know on this subject.

What did Chinese Government do Wrong

1) although there's no reliable way in earthquake forecast, officials roughly know which areas are more susceptible to major earthquake attacks. This information should have been shared with the public. For example, Seattle had a major earthquake overdue. Southern California is expected to have a major earthquake in 20-30 years. If this information is known by the public, then people can make plans and arrangements accordingly in their daily life. Many lives could have been saved if an escape route planned at their schools and work places.

2) It's understandable to weigh in the factor of social stability when making earthquake warning decisions. However, it is 'plainly wrong' to have the summer Olympic Game as a factor in making such decision. Olympic is a timely event, which should never be a factor in decision making process.

3) As reporters asked this morning in the news press, why so many school buildings collapsed? This must be investigated after the completion of the disaster relief.

Eminent Domain in 1083

The first Chinese law regulating eminent domain was approved and announced in Yuanfeng 6th year of the Northern Song Dynasty (1083). Before the law, the common practice of the Chinese government is to compensate the evicted residents by allowing them a place in another location, plus waiving of taxes for a certain years. However, this method usually can't guarantee consistent living level especially for those originally live in a prosperous place. One emperor of Song, Tai Zong, lemented that although his palace was too narrow, but he had to resist the expansion plan being afraid of seeing people would have to move.

The 1083 law on eminent domain states that the government is responsible to compensate those evicted with comparable location as well as monetary reimbursement. The value of the compensation would be the average of the original purchase value and current accessed value. According to record, 120 families were moved on eminent domain in June of the same year. They were totally reimbursed at 20600 Min, or 171 Guan per family which is about $6,000 today's US dollars.

Chinese Government Does not Trust Made-In-China

Hefei government published an air-conditioning purchase announcement on Nov 16, which explicitly excluded any made-in-China products in participation, not even those with foreign brand and only assembled in China. Lack of technical specification, the announcement only required that the air-conditioning must be imported in its entity (not in parts and then assembled in China). Actually, this has been the case for years. The Chinese government does not trust made-in-China product. Whatever they say on the newspaper and TV, they do not want to use made-in-China product themselves. The Party Boss Mr. Li of the Bureau of Homeland Resources told the reporters of Anhui Business News that they must use the 'best' product.

What's even more ironic and drama is that the Hefei government just signed a deal with the Gree Air-conditioning Company to build a manufacture base that will produce 30 million air-conditioner per year, or one thirds of the world market.

Hefei is the capital city of Anhui Province in Central China.