China scraps awards and prizes

BEIJING - A decision by the State Council, China's cabinet, to discontinue some 76 government awards and evaluation campaigns was posted on the official website of the Chinese government on Wednesday.

The post on www.gov.cn listed 76 campaigns that are coming to an end, including prizes and honors set up by various ministries, and evaluations conducted by government agencies.

They include, for example, prizes for "an outstanding education portal website", "excellent vocational education teaching materials," and selection of "excellent tourist destinations", or "demonstration projects of population and family planning reforms".

The campaigns that are being culled feature government evaluations and league tables like "counties that reach safe-use-of-medicines standards" and the appraisal of "certification centers for geoinformation professionals".

The State Council decision reiterates the order that prizes and evaluations which are not associated with government functions and play little role in government work must be scrapped. Terminated campaigns can not be restored nor continued however they might be renamed or rebranded. Supervision of industry associations will no longer receive government funding.

The State Council called for follow-up cuts in red tape and the delegation of government power to lower levels or social organizations.