Power to the people Chinese-style

'A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world." This phrase from novelist John Le Carre aptly summarizes the problem President Xi Jinping is trying to solve with his new "mass line" and bring Party and government officials closer to the people.

Chinese officials, like their counterparts in other countries, must provide overall direction on issues, which often means working "behind the desk". But relying on second- and third-hand reports on conditions "out there", while sitting behind the desk, can be very dangerous, because the reports could be inaccurate, dishonest or lack key information. To address this contradiction and to effectively implement the mass line, the authorities have to take several measures.

Officials have, in recent decades, carried out periodic inspections of government organizations and other facilities, and schools and villages in an attempt to ascertain the real conditions. But local officials have all too often been informed in advance to expect an inspection team, which enables them to make preparations to impress the visiting officials.

I once taught in a college where, on learning that an inspection team was coming, the officials started special training sessions to instruct students to conceal the real conditions. I tried to stop this but could not.

Human nature being what it is, in most cases surprise inspections, with no advance notice, may be needed to determine the real state of government facilities, schools and villages.

Chinese officials could also consider some unusual steps that some governments and businesses in the West have taken to "move closer to the people". Some senior managers of large department store chains, for example, spend an afternoon working as ordinary cashiers, thereby gaining a more accurate understanding of real customers' experiences.