2016年CRI Survey Says It's Time to Adopt Official Residence System

 

The idea to house senior officials was first identified as a priority in a 2013 decision announced by the Communist Party of China.

Almost two and half years later, Wang Yukai, a professor of the Chinese Academy of Governance, finished a 3-month survey of the issue and says it's time for China to adopt an official residence system, "According to the survey, about 70 percent of over 500 respondents - most of whom are Party or government officials - agreed that the time is ripe to implement¹ a system to house senior officials during their terms. Most of the respondents have high expectation to establish an official residence system. "

Under the system, the central government would provide housing for each senior official and his or her immediate² family, and the residence would be reallocated to another official after the original occupant leaves office.

Although there has been some resistance from vested interests and senior leaders, Wang says a trial system providing housing for senior officials at the local government level has already been implemented³ in some regions and has made much progress. The pilot program is seen as a possible model for the wider introduction of the future official residence system.

In several instances before a trial housing provision system was implemented, officials bought several houses for much less than market price and then sold them for huge profits, tainting⁴ their offices with corruption⁵ and causing the loss of State property, as those houses were built by local governments.

It is a common practice in some Western countries that officials at certain levels live in a government-provided and maintained residence when they take office and move out after finishing their terms. Wang says China's official residence system will learn from Western countries and adapt ideas for use in China, "Based on China's national condition, the official residence system should regulate strictly⁶ what kind of officials could live in the official residence, and how to construct and manage such housing."

Wang says it's hard to predict when China's official residence system will be implemented, "The pilot program of local governments has provided practical experience for the establishment of the official residence system. I believe that by 2020, when China establishes the frame of its modern administrative⁷ system, the official residence system will be included in the new administrative system. "

Wang says the official residence system will play a very important role in curbing⁸ potential corruption within the government.

1 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

4 tainting   

v.使变质( taint的现在分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

7 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

8 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。