Secondly, expressing my own true opinions is motivated by my
conscience and responsibility. There seems to be a code of conduct
among mainland officials that you should not reveal all of your
thoughts, and you can’t speak out when you know something is not
right. I have been educated for decades by the Communist Party that
we officials ought to “serve the people”. I think I should not only
do my job well and maximise my capabilities, but also let the
public know what they deserve to know. In that way, I can truly
serve the public.
Do you
care about what the public think of you?
Yes, I care
very much about the public’s assessment of me. But, I don’t care
how the authorities view me. Some officials say I am too
high-profile, but there are also many officials who admire my
courage. Several years ago, a domestic media outlet selected me as
one of the top 50 charismatic people on the mainland, along with
star entertainers and some very senior mainland leaders. Another
media outlet marked me as an epitome of an official in the future,
when China becomes more democratic. These honours are important to
me, and I c
我不会噤若寒蝉Unlike the bulk of mainland government officials, Liao
Xinbo, 58, is never shy about expressing his opinions in
public, even when they go
against those of his bosses. In the decade since he was named
deputy director of the Guangdong Health Department, he has been a
media darling, and his blog is one of the most popular on the
mainland. In April, he was abruptly dismissed and became an
inspector of the provincial health authority –
essentially a ceremonial position, although his pay was raised to
be on par with that of the provincial health authority’s director.
Many people felt sympathy for Liao, saying he was demoted because
of his outspokenness, but Liao said he wouldn’t change.
Secondly, expressing my own true opinions is motivated by my
conscience and responsibility. There seems to be a code of conduct
among mainland officials that you should not reveal all of your
thoughts, and you can’t speak out when you know something is not
right. I have been educated for decades by the Communist Party that
we officials ought to “serve the people”. I think I should not only
do my job well and maximise my capabilities, but also let the
public know what they deserve to know. In that way, I can truly
serve the public.
Do you
care about what the public think of you?
Yes, I care
very much about the public’s assessment of me. But, I don’t care
how the authorities view me. Some officials say I am too
high-profile, but there are also many officials who admire my
courage. Several years ago, a domestic media outlet selected me as
one of the top 50 charismatic people on the mainland, along with
star entertainers and some very senior mainland leaders. Another
media outlet marked me as an epitome of an official in the future,
when China becomes more democratic. These honours are important to
me, and I c
How do you
view your job change?
As an
official working in the government or public institutions for
several decades, I know I should absolutely toe the line of the
upper-level bosses. I have never asked the reason behind my job
change. But at the same time, I am confused: why pay me so well but
let me take up an idle position? Before then, I was in charge of
health reform and other hospital-related affairs, and was one of
the busiest leaders in the provincial Health Department. Some
people say things now are not bad for me because I have better
treatment and don’t need to do much. But I don’t like it, and it’s
not in line with my personality. I am not a loafer. I want to do
things and I need a platform.
c the
situation becomes. Another stumbling block is that most of our
government officials don’t understand why there are public
hospitals. They use a market economy mindset to manage public
hospitals.
You have
criticised authorities for underfunding public hospitals. Did you
allocate more when you were in the health department?
I tried to
push, but I wasn’t powerful enough. On average government funding
accounts for only about 10 per cent of a public hospital’s revenue,
forcing these health institutions to chase profits. This is the
quintessential reason for the problems in public health, such as
high medical costs and strained hospital-patient relations. I
remember once I asked leaders of our provincial financial
department to increase funding to public hospitals and they said
no, on the argument that public hospitals made profits. They didn’t
stop to think that the whole idea was so absurd and seemed to
believe their answer was justified. I felt enraged and sad.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition
as ‘I won’t be a cicada in cold weather’
You like
to talk to the media, and you are a diligent blogger. What do you
think about that now?
It’s not
that I never expected my career within the government would be
affected. Therefore I thank Wang Yang (former Guangdong party head
and current Politburo member) for creating the atmosphere and
advocating that officials speak out freely. Over the past decade,
no one warned me or told me to shut up or stopped my blog. So the
recent change of my position is a surprise to me, but I will still
be open and frank in talking about medical reform. I won’t be like
a cicada in cold weather or flatter the authorities.
herish them. Since I started my blog at the end of 2005,
I have written 2,500 articles and have 3.6 million fans. To those
that say I talk to the public to gain “political capital”, my
answer is that I haven’t gained any.
As a
Guangdong health authority inspector, what’s your main
duty?
My
responsibilities include health inspection and foreign affairs.
Health inspection involves assessing food safety and the hygiene
and radiation status of public venues. It’s a weak government
function and becoming weaker. On the foreign affairs side, I am
responsible for sending Guangdong doctors on overseas support
missions, carrying out medical cooperation between Guangdong and
overseas, and attracting foreign investment in health-related
areas.
Why has
there been so little progress in medical reform?
There are
some other government departments involved in medical reform
besides the health authority, and I don’t think all of them share a
common view about health reform. They have their own agendas and
don’t put their efforts into pushing the reform in the same
direction. So the more these authorities do, the more chaoti
Most
officials normally shun the media. Why are you so
different?
First of
all, it’s because of my honest and straightforward character. But I
should say there are many other officials with the same character.
Secondly, expressing my own true opinions is motivated by my
conscience and responsibility. There seems to be a code of conduct
among mainland officials that you should not reveal all of your
thoughts, and you can’t speak out when you know something is not
right. I have been educated for decades by the Communist Party that
we officials ought to “serve the people”. I think I should not only
do my job well and maximise my capabilities, but also let the
public know what they deserve to know. In that way, I can truly
serve the public.
Secondly, expressing my own true opinions is motivated by my
conscience and responsibility. There seems to be a code of conduct
among mainland officials that you should not reveal all of your
thoughts, and you can’t speak out when you know something is not
right. I have been educated for decades by the Communist Party that
we officials ought to “serve the people”. I think I should not only
do my job well and maximise my capabilities, but also let the
public know what they deserve to know. In that way, I can truly
serve the public.
Do you
care about what the public think of you?
Yes, I care
very much about the public’s assessment of me. But, I don’t care
how the authorities view me. Some officials say I am too
high-profile, but there are also many officials who admire my
courage. Several years ago, a domestic media outlet selected me as
one of the top 50 charismatic people on the mainland, along with
star entertainers and some very senior mainland leaders. Another
media outlet marked me as an epitome of an official in the future,
when China becomes more democratic. These honours are important to
me, and I c
Do you
care about what the public think of you?
Yes, I care
very much about the public’s assessment of me. But, I don’t care
how the authorities view me. Some officials say I am too
high-profile, but there are also many officials who admire my
courage. Several years ago, a domestic media outlet selected me as
one of the top 50 charismatic people on the mainland, along with
star entertainers and some very senior mainland leaders. Another
media outlet marked me as an epitome of an official in the future,
when China becomes more democratic. These honours are important to
me, and I cherish them. Since I started my blog at the end of 2005,
I have written 2,500 articles and have 3.6 million fans. To those
that say I talk to the public to gain “political capital”, my
answer is that I haven’t gained any.
as one of
the busiest leaders in the provincial Health Department. Some
people say things now are not bad for me because I have better
treatment and don’t need to do much. But I don’t like it, and it’s
not in line with my personality. I am not a loafer. I want to do
things and I need a platform.
You like
to talk to the media, and you are a diligent blogger. What do you
think about that now?
It’s not
that I never expected my career within the government would be
affected. Therefore I thank Wang Yang (former Guangdong party head
and current Politburo member) for creating the atmosphere and
advocating that officials speak out freely. Over the past decade,
no one warned me or told me to shut up or stopped my blog. So the
recent change of my position is a surprise to me, but I will still
be open and frank in talking about medical reform. I won’t be like
a cicada in cold weather or flatter the authorities.
Most
officials normally shun the media. Why are you so
different?
First of
all, it’s because of my honest and straightforward character. But I
should say there are many other officials with the same character.
As a
Guangdong health authority inspector, what’s your main
duty?
My
responsibilities include health inspection and foreign affairs.
Health inspection involves assessing food safety and the hygiene
and radiation status of public venues. It’s a weak government
function and becoming weaker. On the foreign affairs side, I am
responsible for sending Guangdong doctors on overseas support
missions, carrying out medical cooperation between Guangdong and
overseas, and attracting foreign investment in health-related
areas.
我不会噤若寒蝉Unlike the bulk of mainland government officials, Liao
Xinbo, 58, is never shy about expressing his opinions in public, even when they go
against those of his bosses. In the decade since he was named
deputy director of the Guangdong Health Department, he has been a
media darling, and his blog is one of the most popular on the
mainland. In April, he was abruptly dismissed and became an
inspector of the provincial health authority – essentially a
ceremonial position, although his pay was raised to be on par with
that of the provincial health authority’s director. Many people
felt sympathy for Liao, saying he was demoted because of his
outspokenness, but Liao said he wouldn’t change.
How do you
view your job change?
As an
official working in the government or public institutions for
several decades, I know I should absolutely toe the line of the
upper-level bosses. I have never asked the reason behind my job
change. But at the same time, I am confused: why pay me so well but
let me take up an idle position? Before then, I was in charge of
health reform and other hospital-related affairs, and w
Why has
there been so little progress in medical reform?
There are
some other government departments involved in medical reform
besides the health authority, and I don’t think all of them share a
common view about health reform. They have their own agendas and
don’t put their efforts into pushing the reform in the same
direction. So the more these authorities do, the more chaotic the
situation becomes. Another stumbling block is that most of our
government officials don’t understand why there are public
hospitals. They use a market economy mindset to manage public
hospitals.
我不会噤若寒蝉Unlike the bulk of mainland government officials, Liao
Xinbo, 58, is never shy about expressing his opinions in public, even when they go
against those of his bosses. In the decade since he was named
deputy director of the Guangdong Health Department, he has been a
media darling, and his blog is one of the most popular on the
mainland. In April, he was abruptly dismissed and became an
inspector of the provincial health authority – essentially a
ceremonial position, although his pay was raised to be on par with
that of the provincial health authority’s director. Many people
felt sympathy for Liao, saying he was demoted because of his
outspokenness, but Liao said he wouldn’t change.
How do you
view your job change?
As an
official working in the government or public institutions for
several decades, I know I should absolutely toe the line of the
upper-level bosses. I have never asked the reason behind my job
change. But at the same time, I am confused: why pay me so well but
let me take up an idle position? Before then, I was in charge of
health reform and other hospital-related affairs, and w
You have
criticised authorities for underfunding public hospitals. Did you
allocate more when you were in the health department?
I tried to
push, but I wasn’t powerful enough. On average government funding
accounts for only about 10 per cent of a public hospital’s revenue,
forcing these health institutions to chase profits. This is the
quintessential reason for the problems in public health, such as
high medical costs and strained hospital-patient relations. I
remember once I asked leaders of our provincial financial
department to increase funding to public hospitals and they said
no, on the argument that public hospitals made profits. They didn’t
stop to think that the whole idea was so absurd and seemed to
believe their answer was justified. I felt enraged and sad.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition
as ‘I won’t be a cicada in cold weather’
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