Saving money? Participants still getting ‘nice’ hotels and food
Zhuang Pinghui 4 March 2009
Much-touted cost-cutting efforts at this year’s session of the CPPCC were barely apparent to members at the meeting.
The national advisory body’s spokesman, Zhao Qizheng, had said that standards for accommodation and food would be lowered.
Members said they appreciated the gesture, but could not spot any significant changes.
“The meals are served in a buffet and the food is almost the same as before,” Shanghai delegate Ye Jiannong said. “The condition of our hotel is also very nice and comfortable.”
Another delegate, singer Guan Mucun, said she thought the idea of economising was excellent but she did not see any change.
Wang Ping, from Beijing, said she did not mind eating and boarding in a simple manner during the session, but the only thing she noticed was that her room was smaller.
Eco-conscious efforts by the session organiser to supply delegates with laptops so they could read proposals and reports without printing hard copies won unanimous applause from delegates.
Last month a Guangzhou provincial People’s Political Consultative Conference delegate won praise from critics and internet users after he refused to check into the five-star hotel designated for delegates. The delegate criticised the session’s organisers for not being economical, given that most were from Guangzhou and could eat and sleep at home.
Delegate Cai Jiming, a professor of political economics at Tsinghua University, said a more effective way to save money would be to tighten the schedule and streamline the annual sessions.
“If the schedule was tightened a bit, we might cut two days and that would indeed save a lot of money and working time.”
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Saving money? Participants still getting ‘nice’ hotels and food
Zhuang Pinghui
4 March 2009
Much-touted cost-cutting efforts at this year’s session of the CPPCC were barely apparent to members at the meeting.
The national advisory body’s spokesman, Zhao Qizheng, had said that standards for accommodation and food would be lowered.
Members said they appreciated the gesture, but could not spot any significant changes.
“The meals are served in a buffet and the food is almost the same as before,” Shanghai delegate Ye Jiannong said. “The condition of our hotel is also very nice and comfortable.”
Another delegate, singer Guan Mucun, said she thought the idea of economising was excellent but she did not see any change.
Wang Ping, from Beijing, said she did not mind eating and boarding in a simple manner during the session, but the only thing she noticed was that her room was smaller.
Eco-conscious efforts by the session organiser to supply delegates with laptops so they could read proposals and reports without printing hard copies won unanimous applause from delegates.
Last month a Guangzhou provincial People’s Political Consultative Conference delegate won praise from critics and internet users after he refused to check into the five-star hotel designated for delegates. The delegate criticised the session’s organisers for not being economical, given that most were from Guangzhou and could eat and sleep at home.
Delegate Cai Jiming, a professor of political economics at Tsinghua University, said a more effective way to save money would be to tighten the schedule and streamline the annual sessions.
“If the schedule was tightened a bit, we might cut two days and that would indeed save a lot of money and working time.”
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