A Study on the Establishment and Transformations of Chinese Type Quangos

This paper intends to examine the establishment and transformation of Quangos(Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organizations) in transitional China. Regarding Quango, China slightly differs from the western countries due to China’s unique social context. We suggest that the Quango Continuum could be slightly modified to apply better to China. The second part of the paper presents the China quasi-autonomous organizations, their main characteristics, and the reforms that have concerned these organizations. An overview of the main political, economic, social and legal reforms as well as globalization undertaken will be given, to place Quangos in the administrative context in which they act. Finally the paper takes trade associations as an example to examine their establishment and transformation. They are typical Quango that spends public money to fulfill a public task but with some degree of independence from elected representatives. Most of them are created from top to bottom. Trade associations thus generally demonstrate the characters of stronger government especially during China’s transitional period. However, the government begins to encourage trade associations to seek independence in their finance, personnel, and activities recently in order to reduce its financial pressure. The trend is clear that they are becoming increasingly independent with the deepening of China’s reform.