三、地方機構改革要搞好“控、調、改”

III. Local institutional reform should focus on "control, adjustment and change".

古人說，“善政必簡”。這次地方政府機構改革，要著力搞好“控、調、改”。控，就是嚴格控制機構編制總量；調，就是調整優化機構編制結構；改，就是通過深化改革推動機構編制釋放潛力。

One old saying has it that, "A good government is a slim government". This round of local government institutional reform must ensure success in "exercising control, making adjustment and promoting change". "Control" refers to strictly controlling the total size of government staff. "Adjustment" refers to making adjustments and improvements to the personnel structure. And "change" refers to unleashing staff potential through deepening reform.

（一） 要嚴控機構編制總量。這次改革要把握住兩條硬杠杠：

一是對地方政府機構設置實行總額限制，控制政府規模。二是確保財政供養人員只減不增，這是本屆政府向全社會的承諾，難度雖大，但我們要言必信、行必果。為什么要嚴控機構編制總量？從現實情況看，各級財政收入不太可能再像過去那樣高速增長了，而財政供養人員多，往往“食之者眾，生之者寡”，本屆政府組建半年多，一些地區和部門又陸續提出增編要求，不控制將難以為繼。現在機構編制總量已經很大，疊床架屋，效率低下，甚至滋生腐敗，影響政府形象，也影響努力工作的公務人員的積極性，最終損害的是人民群眾利益。

1. The size of government staffing must be put under rigorous control. In this round of reform, we must observe two principles: one is to set a limit on the total number of local government agencies in order to control government size; the other is to make sure government payroll will only shrink and not expand. This is a commitment this government has made to the entire population. Difficult as it is, a promise is a promise and we will honor it with good faith. Why do we need to strictly control the size of government staffing? Given the current situation, government revenues at various levels are unlikely to see fast growth as in the past. With a large payroll, we will, more often than not, end up in a situation where the little produced by the few will soon be depleted by the many who consume. In just half a year since the formation of this government, some localities and departments have again asked to increase their staffing. Without control, the problem will go from bad to worse. The size of government staffing is already very big. Duplicating responsibilities and overlapping portfolios will not only lead to inefficiency, but even breed corruption. It will tarnish government image and dampen the enthusiasm of those hardworking civil servants. Eventually, it is the interest of the people that is at stake.

（二）要調整優化機構編制結構。現在機構編制不是總量不夠，而是結構不合理，機構編制資源沒有配置好。一方面，需要加強的重點領域和關鍵環節，有的人手不夠，該管的甚至沒人管；另一方面，已經弱化的領域，機構編制沒有及時減下來，造成人浮于事。在嚴控總量的情況下，調整優化機關和事業單位機構編制結構，潛力很大。這兩年，推進事業單位分類改革，通過清理規范，就已經核銷了一部分編制。現在有些機關上面很大、下面很細，成了鴕鳥。各地要下決心，該加強的加強，該弱化的弱化，特別要加強基層、加強一線，把上級機關“瘦身”與基層一線“強身”統籌考慮，把編制結構調整好。

2. The organization and staffing structure of government agencies should be adjusted and improved. The problem at hand is not insufficient size, but poor structure and a misallocation of resources in terms of organizational setup and staffing. On the one hand, there is a shortage of hands in those key areas and links that should be strengthened, and government responsibilities that should be taken care of are even left unattended. On the other hand, in areas already identified as requiring less government attention, the agencies fail to streamline accordingly, resulting in overstaffing. While capping the overall size, we should also see the great potential in adjusting and improving the organizational and staffing structure of government agencies and public institutions. Over the past two years, we have been advancing reform of public institutions based on different categories and have removed some agencies and positions through rectification and regulation. Right now, some government agencies have fat bodies and thin legs, like an ostrich. Local governments must be determined to strengthen those institutions that should be strengthened and scale back those where it is necessary. In particular, the grassroots level and the frontline of government institutions should be fortified. When we make adjustments to the organizational and staffing structure, we have to give consideration to the need of slimming down higher-level governments while beefing-up those at the grassroots level.

（三）要通過深化改革滿足事業發展的需要。嚴控機構編制總量、調整結構，根本上還是要靠深化改革、創新管理。從多年經驗看，不改革、不創新，就很難跳出“精簡—膨脹—再精簡—再膨脹”的怪圈。近年來一些地方在推進機構改革上進行了積極有效的探索。有的地方推行大部門制改革，整合多個部門的市場監管職能和資源，構建統一的大市場監管體系，提升了服務管理水平和效率。有的地方實行編制實名制，對編外的、混編的都明確登記在冊，并且向社會公開，讓社會監督，從制度和管理上解決“吃空餉”、在編不在崗、虛報冒領財政資金等問題。這些方面的改革，各地要繼續大膽探索，及時總結經驗加以推廣。中央各部門不得以任何形式干預地方機構設置和編制調整。

3. Reform should be deepened to meet our needs for development. To control the size and adjust the structure of government agencies and staffing, the key is to deepen reform and innovate management. Experience over the years shows that without reform and innovation, it is very difficult to break the vicious cycle of streamlining-swelling-streamlining again-swelling again. In recent years, some localities have made good and effective explorations in institutional reform. Some have consolidated the market regulation functions and resources of several departments into one bigger department in order to build a unified, overarching market regulation system and thereby upgrading the quality and efficiency of its services and management. Some localities follow a real-name staffing system. All outside personnel, including those borrowed from government-affiliated institutions, are entered into records and disclosed to the public for scrutiny, effectively closing institutional and management loopholes that allow people to freeload, stay on the payroll without reporting for duty or make false claims for government funding. All local governments are encouraged to boldly explore reforms aimed at addressing these issues and good experience should be promptly summarized and shared. No central government agency may interfere in any way with the readjustment of local organizational setup and staffing.

地方政府改革是一場自我革命，涉及面廣、觸及利益深。各地要按照中央的統一部署，把這項改革作為一項重要工作。要民意為先、舍利為公，敢啃“硬骨頭”，義無反顧、一抓到底。要與開展黨的群眾路線教育實踐活動結合起來，與貫徹落實中央八項規定結合起來，實現相互推動、相互促進。省級黨委政府要負總責，主要領導要親自抓，加強對本地區改革的指導和督促檢查。各級政府要認真制定改革方案，明確改革的時間節點和任務分工，強化責任，遇到重大問題及時向中央報告。中央有關部門要加強指導、協調和督查。要嚴格機構編制紀律，對違反紀律的，要嚴肅查處。

Local government reform is a self-initiated revolution. It will involve many quarters and shake up vested interests. All localities must follow the unified arrangements of the central authorities and put this reform high on their agenda. They must put public opinion and interests first and display the courage to crack hard nuts and see the reform through without ever letting up. This reform should be combined with the campaign to study and practice the mass line of the CPC and the implementation of the "eight rules" of the CPC Central Committee so that these efforts will reinforce each other. Provincial Party committees and governments should assume overall responsibility for the reform. Leading officials must personally take charge and do more to guide, supervise and monitor the reform process in their respective jurisdictions. Government at all levels must develop plans with all seriousness, specify the timeline and task breakdown, hold themselves strictly accountable and report immediately to the central authorities whenever major issues arise. Competent authorities at the central level must strengthen guidance, coordination and supervision. Discipline in organizational setup and staffing must be strictly observed, and violations shall be dealt with without leniency.

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）