So far the most recognized barometer of the nation's socio-economic well-being, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' annual blue book, found nearly 80 percent of the public "very" or "fairly satisfied" with life in 2004.

That is almost 10 percentage points higher than the findings a year ago.

Money counted. Additional disposable income enabled more convenience, freedom, confidence, and ultimately life satisfaction.

Holidaying overseas or owning a private vehicle was no longer considered to be inaccessible and things like this quite simply made people happier this year. But the correlation between financial well-being and happiness is trickier than it might first appear.

Money is not the be-all and end-all of life nor the only way to reach satisfaction.

The new-generation national leadership's proposal of a "scientific perspective on development," or the idea that economic progress should promote public welfare and social harmony, was a powerful and effective dose of hope and optimism for the public psyche in 2004. From its enthusiasm for "green GDP" to the ideal of "harmonious society," the leadership made it crystal clear that people count more heavily than account books.

The national legislature made a historic breakthrough in March, updating the Constitution to stipulate that the State respect and guarantee human rights, and lawful private property was made inviolable.

Adoption of these once alien concepts in the national Constitution has started chain reactions at national and local levels to review and revise outdated laws and rules. As citizens more assuredly cite the constitutional clause to defend their legitimate rights and interests, State power and State functionaries, on the other hand, put on a more humane face. Even the once condescending government decrees and clerks are undergoing change.

Though some overseas observers have labeled the constitutional amendment as primarily a response to the "new capitalists' call" for legal guarantees, the rest of the year proved otherwise.

The amendment was intended as an umbrella of constitutional protection for all citizens, whether they are government employees, farmers, criminals, or beggars.

The bulk of the year's new policy initiatives and legislation have demonstrated a high fidelity to the new leadership's signature concern for the underprivileged.

Blatant refusal to pay transient rural workers' wages by building contractors, a nationwide headache that has several times prompted Premier Wen Jiabao to personally intervene on behalf of desperate farmers, has finally had some response this year.

National and local authorities have worked out various schemes to ensure migrant workers are paid. The Ministry of Justice has even issued a special document on providing free or low-cost legal assistance for rural workers in financial difficulties.

In addition to that, affirmative action against discrimination and for transient rural workers' equal rights with urban residents has evolved into a natural part of society's awakening public consciousness of civil liberties.

It is unprecedented that such things as the right to education of children of transient workers, and even workers' sexual depression, have become topics of public discourse.

More inspiring for the entire rural populace could be the government's decision to get rid of agricultural tax in five years. That means the removal of a 7-billion-yuan (US$856.40 million) financial burden each year. Some provinces have already done away with such a tax.

Drawing lessons from the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic, the authorities' endeavor to improve public health emergency services has also been particularly beneficial to people living in the countryside.

While more than doubling its input in AIDS prevention since 2003, the government has begun offering free testing and treatment for poor AIDS patients.

Children orphaned by AIDS have been promised free schooling. Most live in rural communities.

If the amendment to the Constitution features the empowerment of people, the Administrative Licensing Law, which came into effect on July 1, is another substantial piece of legislation, after the State Compensation Law and the Administrative Procedure Law, to discipline State power.

It has been appropriately defined as the government's "self-revolution."

By strictly defining the scope and procedure of matters subject to government permission, civil liberties have come to end only at specific bans by law.

In response to the new law, government agencies have cancelled numerous previous restrictions on civil liberties, making the once tedious examination and approval process a lot simpler and easier.

Now when you want to launch a business, you no longer have to repeat the time-consuming and nerve-numbing journey for official seals of approval.

Efforts to regulate State power were not limited to redefining its scope of jurisdiction.

The manner of law enforcement, a major target of public resentment over the years, became a key focus of rectification in 2004.

Procuratorial authorities launched a high-profile campaign to clear overtime custody. Public security authorities defined the scope, procedure and time limits for continued interrogation. The Supreme People's Court, in its new rules on sealing-up, withholding and freezing assets, exempted suspects' daily necessities and expenses, as well as materials necessary for the fulfilment of basic education.

Chief Judge Xiao Yang of the Supreme People's Court urged his colleagues nationwide to make sure "the innocent are not subject to criminal punishment."

That is the very basic principle of jurisprudence, as well as an essential prerequisite to safeguarding civil liberties.

The mayor of Beijing once told his colleagues that the essence of rule of law is containment of government power and promotion of civil rights. The scholarly commonplace sounded refreshing from his mouth, because it shows an invaluable shift in officials' way of thinking.

Respect for civil rights and freedom cannot establish a spontaneous suggestion in a State functionary's heart until he or she dumps the idea that State power overrides all.

One phenomenon that distinguished this year from past years is the growing responsiveness State organs have demonstrated to public opinion.

Earlier this year, Beijing municipal authorities came up with the idea to set up "no-beggar zones" at some busy commercial districts and transport hubs.

They finally gave up in the face of a negative public uproar. Debates resulted in a consensus that beggars' rights deserve equal respect as those of other citizens.

In August, the Ministry of Personnel stipulated in a draft regulation on physical examinations for recruiting public servants to disqualify all candidates who had contracted AIDS/HIV.

The article incurred fierce criticism for discrimination. In the second draft the ministry published on its official website, the article had gone.

Increasingly, public hearings are becoming a standard approach and procedure for government agencies in making decisions of public interest.

In a transitional society like ours, conflict of interest abounds. Meanwhile, our mechanism for civil rights guarantees is young and inadequate. Compared with the traditional strength of State power, the individual's rights and freedom remain fragile and vulnerable.

The willingness the authorities have displayed to listen and respond to the public's voice is conducive to the cohesion of society and a popular sense of efficiency.

That sense in turn breeds satisfaction.

The less they suffer from intrusive State power, the more respect they feel, and the happier people will be.

We hope the blue book compilers report an even higher satisfaction with life next year. 

(China Daily December 27, 2004)