A Taiwan compatriot has over the past few years taken on supervisory responsibilities concerning social affairs in Pingtan county, the Pingtan Times reported on Jan 14.

Xue Deqing was among 16 monitors hired by the local Party Working Committee in early 2013 in a bid to improve the social environment.

The main tasks of the monitors include observing and keeping track of malpractice and excessive regulation in government sectors and public institutions and reporting back to the authorities.

Xue, one of only two monitors from Taiwan, has submitted more than 30 suggestions since he was hired.

He has reported on matters such as postal workers who do not deliver parcels, local telecom companies adding telephone-purchasing clauses in applications of phone numbers, banks that lack a suitable number of service counters, traffic congestion and poor hygienic conditions.

He has been working in Pingtan for more than ten years.

Xue said that he thinks he was hired primarily because the Pingtan authorities want Taiwan people to engage in Pingtan's construction of a Common Homeland, and also because he can help the authorities to improve their performance from a different perspective.

"Letting Taiwan compatriots in management of Pingtan's social affairs is part of Pingtan's 'Five Common' cause," commented Xue Lihao, member of Pingtan Committee for Disciplinary Inspection, adding that the move could draw experiences from the Taiwan friends.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman