Scholar in China: Epidemic in China Serious; Society Having Difficultly Accepting the Facts

A scholar from the public administration authority in China who was unwilling to give his name pointed out that the situation of SARS is very serious in China right now. Many Beijing hospitals moved all SARS patients out of their hospitals and concealed the epidemic situation from the WHO professionals when they went there for inspection. Public comments all point to the fact that the Chinese bureaucratic system has a deeply rooted tradition of deception, and government officials will watch each other's backs and cover up the truth. Similar incidents are certain to happen again.

An anonymous scholar from the public administration authority in China pointed out to the Central News Agency that the situation of SARS is very critical in China right now. The Chinese government faces a dilemma. If it doesn't publicise the accurate number of cases, the international community will flood it with condemnations; foreign investors may stop investing out of distrust for the Chinese government; but if the government publicly announces the facts and verifies the hearsay are true, a serious problem will also result. It is doubtful that all of society will be able to accept the facts.

Saying one thing while doing another

This scholar said that the Chinese immunological health care system is still using the mindset of the past bureaucratic system because it has never met with any challenges. Chinese government officials cover for each other; they are stagnant and they cover up the truth. It is very common for Chinese officials to do one thing while saying something else. The people can only guess and judge the situation from the words and actions of the leaders. For instance, Liu Qi, Party Secretary of Beijing, while visiting taxi companies, urged taxi drivers to pay attention to hygiene, so many people concluded that taxis have become a transmission channel for the disease.

General Party Secretary Hu Jintao has forbidden local governments from covering up or delaying the report on SARS cases in an attempt to save China's image. However, it became known yesterday that, to conceal the true situation of this epidemic, many Beijing hospitals transported dozens of SARS patients away prior to the inspection by WHO professionals at these hospitals.

Bureaucratic Practices Deeply Rooted

Kam Chung, editor-in-chief of the Hong Kong political commentary magazine Open pointed out to Apple Daily News that Hu Jintao and eight other members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo decided during a meeting to no longer cover up the truth. Perhaps Hu Jintao is more open-minded and wants China to be more open. However, the Party system has the deeply rooted ideology of "internal troubles shouldn't be heard by outsiders." They have been this way for the past several decades, and it carries great momentum. It is their deeply rooted tradition.

Kam Chung asserted that since the head of the state issued orders, the local governments would receive more or less pressure and the situation of cover-up may change. However, if the system doesn't revolutionise itself, similar things will still happen in the future.

April 19 2003

Chinese version available at http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200304/19525.html