BEIJING - Government-owned cars would likely be subjected to a central government-proposed traffic volume control regulation that aims for more energy savings and emissions reductions.

A parking lot for cars of a government department in Beijing. [Photo/China Daily]

According to guidelines drafted by 17 central government departments including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, cars owned by government institutions should not be used at least for one day during the five-day workweek.

The absent days would be assigned according to the last number of the license plates.

The practice is similar to a Beijing policy.

For example, at present, cars carrying license plates with the last numbers of 4 and 9 are restricted on Mondays, and with 0 and 5 on Tuesdays.

The proposal also called for staff to drive one day less every month, ride a bike when their travel distance is within 1 km and take public transportation within 5 km.

It asks government organizations to renew vehicle purchase plans with changed vehicle purchase standards. Buying medium and small-displacement cars as well as new-energy vehicles has been encouraged when making purchasing budget.

The trial on government-owned vehicle restrictions has been carried out in Jiangsu province since October 2008.

Media reports said, "no one has been heard to be punished due to breach of the restrictions." Other reports quoted interviewers saying that, "it worked well at the beginning, but was gradually neglected later."

According to the Government Offices Administration of the State Council, which has been engaged in drafting the proposal, the restriction will not be compulsory.

Wang Zechu, a Guangdong provincial official, applauded the proposal and said there is no need to make compulsory documents or punishments over its implementation. "Whether it can be carried out or not depends on government departments and officials themselves," he said.

But Li Gongming, a renowned scholar in Guangdong, said the proposal is only logically feasible. He said the most important is that government bodies should make their vehicle purchase budgets transparent.

Han Zhipeng, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from Guangdong, said lack of supervision and implementation measures would be the fatal flaw of the plan.

"The key is whether related governments have the resolution to implement it," he said.

Ordinary people have expressed concerns on BBS and microblogs (Weibo).

"I'm wondering if some regional governments will buy even more vehicles. I wonder if some organizations will purchase several license plates for one car to avoid the restriction," a netizen commented on Weibo.

"It is just a show," another Weibo user named "Jiangweishengbu" said. "It might be our luck to see that a government-owned vehicle only run 5,000 km every month on roads," he mocked.

The Nandu Daily newspaper in Guangzhou, which is known for insightful comments, said, "When it comes to issues relating to energy conservation and emissions reductions, why are the rules so strict on ordinary people, but very loose on officials?"

The article added, "no doubt, only when the government and its staff sacrifice some privileges and give up some personal gains for a greener environment, can public awareness on energy savings and emissions reductions really occur.

Otherwise, no matter how many documents and plans are released, or how definite and loud the slogans sound, it makes no sense to the public good."