A court verdict saying a township government should disclose information doesn't mean the rights of citizens are being protected fully, says an article in the Beijing Times. Except:

The Changping district government in Beijing recently rejected a resident's request to make public the information on a housing-demolition project.

But later, an intermediate people's court in Beijing issued a verdict that the authorities have to make the information public. The Ordinance on Governmental Information Disclosure, issued last May, says authorities have to disclose information, other than those considered confidential, sought by the public.

Though it's good to see a court rule against a government, we are still far from realizing the concrete rights of citizens using which they can get information from government departments.

The Changping township resident wanted the information probably to know two things: whether the government would carry out the demolition within the framework of law, and whether he would receive fair compensation for his house, which was to be pulled down.

The question now is whether the court verdict would be honored and the Changping township government will make the information public.

The ordinance says government organs violating it should rectify their mistakes, and head officials be held responsible for the mistakes if they cause serious trouble and even be subject to criminal punishment if any crime is involved.

But government organs still lack outside supervision, and it cannot be said whether the court will enforce the law if Changping township government still refuses to disclose the information.

(China Daily July 10, 2009)