Government 'must utilize blogs better' (2)

Wang cited one particular micro blog as an example.

Chen Shiqu, head of the Ministry of Public Security's anti-trafficking task force, "has done tangible things for the public", Wang said.

Chen opened a micro blog on Dec 12, 2010 after being told that it would help authorities combat human trafficking, and this turned out to be true, he said. More than 2,000 tip-offs have been submitted to the blog, he said.

Chen also used the platform to raise public awareness of various legislation and show how his office can help reunite families.

Chen's micro blog has 1.36 million followers. These are people that he could not reach by conventional means, he said.

Zhang Jianshu, director of information service at the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, however, said making a government micro blog popular is not easy.

The bureau opened its micro blog in November 2010 and has so far posted about 170 articles of information and has 48,000 followers.

Netizens don't respond much to our postings and we are trying to overcome this problem, Zhang told China Daily earlier.

An industry expert said government agencies should not open micro blogs just for show.

"The government should make full use of existing communication channels, while keeping pace with the latest technology," said Zhu Lijia, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance.