"Zhongguancun should reform its government administration in an entrepreneurial spirit," Zhao Mulan, a full-time member of the Zhongguancun Management Committee, the high-tech development zone's local government, said during a hearing on Wednesday.

The committee will invite entrepreneurs to join it to approve the zone's development program, working plans, special development funds, and budget and final accounts.

Moreover, entrepreneurs will also have the right to evaluate the performance of the committee's full-time officials.

Fifteen entrepreneurs who will take up one third of the committee's seats can intervene over the use of taxes and supervision of officials, said Wang Liping, a human resources official on the committee.

"Without the participation of entrepreneurs, the committee's policies would probably be divorced from commercial reality," said Liu Chuanzhi, chairman of the Legend Group, China's biggest personal computer manufacturer.

Entrepreneurial representatives offered a host of suggestions at the hearing on the composition, qualifications, election methods and tenure for the new members of the committee.

Entrepreneur members will be elected and introduced to the public in March and formerly assume office in June this year.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2003)