Chengguan outsourcing is an effective way to make administrative management more convenient and resolve the problem of a shortage of workers. It can also save costs. However, there are certain possible consequences that we need to take into consideration.

The responsibilities and rights of chengguan are granted by government bodies. Everything the chengguan do reflects concrete lines and the guidance of the policy. It will also influence the governments' image in people's eyes.

Shenzhen is planning to introduce regulations which will punish uncivilized behavior. Then the outsourced chengguan will also have the power to punish those people they regard as behaving in an "uncivilized" way. Before this legislation, there have already been many cases where outsourced chengguan cheat, steal, or extort from peddlers. The supervision toward outsourced chengguan remains a problem.

The chengguan should act for the good of the city and the residents. And their behaviors influence the governments' image in the eyes of the public. The government has to take the blame for violations of the law and discipline by chengguan.

Now, the Shenzhen municipal government is outsourcing chengguan to contractors without stating whether they will also take the blame if outsourced staff misbehave. While performing government's functions, do contractors have the capability to take on governments' responsibilities?

Indeed, urban management requires various kinds of administrative methods. Grass-roots organizations are asking for more autonomy.

However, it is a long-term and ongoing process. Rome wasn't built in a day. Given the complicated social problems in China, it is not a sound method to copy the outsourcing model from developed countries right now.

The outsourcing of law enforcement nowadays will have many negative effects. After all, the saving of administrative costs should not come at the price of an increase of social costs.



The author is a professor of College of Arts and Sciences in Shanghai Maritime University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn