Online plan needs substance to keep it from sinking<\/p>\n
Fei Li
\nChina Daily\/Asia News Network
\nBeijing<\/p>\n
When the Government Online Initiative was launched in 1999
\nwith great fanfare, hopes were high that the project would lead
\nto a more efficient information flow and interaction between the
\ngovernment and public.<\/p>\n
During the past six years, the number of government websites
\nhas boomed. Those sites have become a convenient way for the
\npublic to learn about government policies, a move that deserves
\nloud applause.<\/p>\n
But not all of the sites bridge the gap between the government
\nand public. For example, many of the sites put up by municipal
\ndepartments in Zhengzhou, capital city of Central China's Henan
\nProvince, did not make the grade, according to a report on
\ngovernment websites.<\/p>\n
It rated the performance of the government departments out of
\na total of 100, and gave 14 of the 91 Zhengzhou departments zero.<\/p>\n
Among the 14, eight departments did not even bother to create
\na website. The sites of the remaining six were no longer
\naccessible. In addition to many sites not being accessible, the
\nreport found that there were problems such as a lack of content
\nand with content being updated, in addition to problems with
\n\"interactiveness.\"<\/p>\n
They are the same problems that bogged down our traditional
\ngovernment information disclosure system. The e-government
\ninitiative was intended to resolve such difficulties.<\/p>\n
Considering all government departments were put on one year's
\nnotice to improve their websites, Zhengzhou's case is even more
\nmind-boggling.<\/p>\n
It may not necessarily be representative of all government
\nwebsites across the country. However, it would not be the
\nexception, either.<\/p>\n
Originally designed to offer one more avenue for the public to
\naccess government information and for government to elicit
\ncitizens' views, the online project was warmly welcomed by
\nresidents.<\/p>\n
It shows respect for the public's right to know and should be
\nhelpful in making the government more transparent and open. But
\nin reality, many of the sites exist because they have to, not for
\nany greater good.
\nIt is no secret that many websites are constructed to score
\npolitical points. With that in mind, the formality is important
\nbut the substance, which is the whole idea, falls by the wayside.<\/p>\n
Problems that the project is encountering in Zhengzhou remind
\nus that we should see the real picture behind the big number of
\ngovernment websites. At a time when building a transparent
\ngovernment is the emphasis, making the government online project
\nreally work is imperative.<\/p>\n
We need to be able to see a virtual government and to see how
\nit is going about its business, which would allow the public to
\nhave more of a say in the decision-making process. This demands
\nthe content be sufficient and updated regularly.<\/p>\n
Government websites should become a medium through which the
\npublic and the government can work with each other in an
\ninteractive process. We should guard against this well-intended
\nproject from becoming a lemon.<\/p>",
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