The Legislative Affairs Office (LAO) of Guangdong provincial government announced on Friday that it has initiated a review of Shenzhen's recent policy to start limiting the number of automobile licenses.

The city government of Shenzhen issued a surprise quota system on December 29, setting the annual cap at 100,000 licenses, which can only be obtained by potential car owners through a lottery system or auction.

Before this, talks about a possible quota system had continued for some time. The Shenzhen government had stated repeatedly that it will hear comments from all walks of life and they would "never launch a surprise attack."

Gu Dasong, an associate professor with Southeast University, filed an inquiry with the LAO, demanding an investigation into the legality of the Shenzhen government's move in this case. The office therefore started the probe.

It is not the first time for a legislative affairs office to look into a lower government's practice. But the Guangdong government's latest move has stood out as something fresh, as it has made a public statement about the move, and Shenzhen's controversial limits on car ownership have drawn much attention. It has given people hope, especially as the country has been stepping up its promotion of the rule of law.

In the past, Chinese society has assumed government decisions are right. In fact, the government may also make mistakes or breach rules. Under the rule of law, the government agencies will also be subject to the supervision of laws.

A number of major cities in China have already started to control the number of automobiles on the road. For many, it is a difficult move that they had to make. People question the legality of the restrictions, arguing that it is a violation of people's rights to own and drive a car.

In the Shenzhen case, the provincial LAO is likely to be in trouble. No matter what the result of their investigation is, it is likely to draw controversy. The bold move of the LAO, despite the pressure, should be applauded.

Despite the challenges, it is significant that the Guangdong government has started the investigation. The probe is an exemplar for the country's rule of law. Guangdong must strive on, ignore complaints, and let the law play a key role in the final result of the probe.

Rule of lawtakes time and efforts. It may look less efficient than administrative power in managing social affairs. But it has proved to be the most effective governing system in human history. The Communist Party of China has decided to comprehensively push forward the rule of law since a major meeting last year. The decision needs to be tested in actual cases. The local governments and society have to share the burden in order to make it happen.