Motorists Call for Immediate Cut in Pump Prices

A group of vehicle owners filed a petition Sunday to the country's top economic planning body, calling for the government to cut fuel prices before continuing discussion on the upcoming fuel tax to be imposed in this early December.

The Beijing Morning Post reported that Liu Jiahui, a Beijing lawyer, has sent the petition to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on behalf of 1,773 car owners around the country.

Regarding the time-consuming legislative procedure and heated negotiation involving various interest groups, we think, the collection of the new fuel tax is not likely to be realized 'very soon'. Beijing Morning Post quoted from the electronic version of the petition, which pleaded the NDRC to lower fuel prices immediately to meet international market price and boost social justice.

Besides calling for an immediate cut in fuel prices, the petition also calls for public hearings on the matter.

The NDRC acknowledged last week that they and related departments have accelerated the study of the new fuel tax reform package, which includes lowering fuel prices, abolishing road and waterway maintenance and management fees, and reforming the fuel sales tax. One source close to Beijing's top decision-making circles said China will be ready to reform its oil-pricing mechanism in 20 days.

But in the petition, vehicle owners said that the three steps in the reform package don't have to be taken all at once, and suggested an immediate cut in fuel prices while continuing the study would be more suitable to the development of the situation.

The vehicle owners also said that they support the collection of fuel tax, but said that the imposition of the tax should follow proper legislative procedures and include a public hearing to ensure the voices of all parties involved are heard.

A public hearing is a prerequisite of the new fuel tax and a rightful legal procedure before introducing the tax, the petition said.

Currently, China's crude oil prices are determined by the global market, but prices of refined oil products have remained under government regulation.

To prevent inflation from going through the roof, the Chinese government has left retail fuel prices unchanged since it hiked in June, a month before international oil prices reached their peak.

Now, with both domestic inflation and international oil prices falling considerably, it is only natural for vehicle owners to demand lower domestic oil prices.

Source: CRIEnglish