Photo of Han Zhipeng at work. Photo provided by Han Zhipeng's family

Han Zhipeng always appeared in the media in a hurry: In 2011, Guangzhou held a hearing on taxi fare adjustment. He applied through two channels but was not selected. So he showed up at the venue with a plastic stool, hoping to have a seat as an observer. He was not satisfied with the result of the hearing, "The hearing is not a hearing on price increase."

He visited taxi drivers and industry associations again, and submitted a proposal to the price department, requesting a reopening of the hearing. "It's not that prices cannot be adjusted, but the procedures must be open and transparent and subject to supervision," he told the media.

Han Zhipeng used to be a worker, reporter, and editor. When he served as a member of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference for three consecutive terms, he was a "mouthpiece" for many ordinary people and a "thorn" in the eyes of some people, but he liked others to call him "Uncle Bench" the most, "I am just an ordinary citizen."

Wang Pu, a retired reporter of Yangcheng Evening News, has known Han Zhipeng for more than 30 years. He told the reporter of China Youth Daily and China Youth Network that Han Zhipeng had worked as a reporter and had a relatively accurate observation of society. The problems he reflected were all of concern to the people and urgently needed to be solved. Moreover, Han Zhipeng's original intention was to help the government improve its work. "The media likes him, and the people enjoy listening to him." A reporter followed Han Zhipeng to run government departments and once wondered why he had to keep a close eye on the taxi fare adjustment. But after a round of investigation, he found that Han Zhipeng had nothing to do with the interests of all parties, "He has no selfish motives." This "ordinary citizen" who was born and raised in Guangzhou would appear on TV screens every now and then, commenting on the current affairs of the day in Cantonese, sometimes humorously and sometimes pungently. The last time he appeared on TV screens was November 7, 2023. On that day, he still wore a baseball cap and talked about how to regulate the road use of electric vehicles. He talked for two and a half minutes, speaking slower than before, and his face did not look very good. But he still maintained the style of a current affairs commentator: many cases, good use of slang, and voice of the people.

"He has a strong sense of responsibility." Wang Zechu and Han Zhipeng were both current affairs commentators for the "Pearl River News" column of the Pearl River Channel of Guangdong Radio and Television Station. He recalled that every time he did a current affairs commentary program, Han Zhipeng would check a lot of information, and sometimes complained that he did not have enough time to explain the data and cases clearly.

Han Zhipeng lives in Tongdewei. It is a relief area in Guangzhou, where a large number of households relocated from the old city were resettled, with a total of 300,000 people. Before 2013, Tongdewei had no public toilets, public hospitals, or public middle schools, and there was only one two-way four-lane road to the central city.

After careful research, Han Zhipeng wrote a proposal on the comprehensive renovation of Tongdewei. After reading it, the then city leader immediately asked Han Zhipeng to go to the site together and said: "The renovation of Tongdewei requires the participation of all people." Later, Tongdewei established a public consultation and supervision committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Public Consultation Committee"), and Han Zhipeng was elected as the director. That was the first time that Guangzhou established a special social supervision agency in a special project.

When the Public Consultation Committee first set up a stall in the square of Tongdewei to accept inquiries, the neighbors flocked to the square and put forward more than 1,000 suggestions for rectification, involving the construction of new viaducts, hospitals, schools, parks, subways, etc. Han Zhipeng and his colleagues from the Public Consultation Committee sorted out the opinions and submitted them to the Guangzhou Municipal Government for reference in decision-making.

Han Zhipeng's home address is almost an open secret in Tongdewei. When the neighbors encounter problems, they go directly to his home to find him. One morning, when he opened the door, seven or eight middle-aged women blocked his door to give their opinions. The neighbors encountered the problem that the viaduct construction was too close to the residential buildings. Han Zhipeng helped coordinate and facilitated the smooth construction of the viaduct.

On the day when the Tongdewei viaduct was completed, he and the residents of Tongdewei walked on the bridge together, singing "We are on the road" loudly.

Later, the experience of the Tongdewei Public Consultation Committee was widely replicated in other communities in Guangzhou, and the Guangzhou Public Consultation Committee system was established. Han Zhipeng was also invited to the National Academy of Administration to introduce how to do mass work and serve as a bridge between the government and the citizens.

Wang Zechu visited Tongdewei, and the neighbors have always thanked and recognized Han Zhipeng, "He really promoted the development of a street, which is not easy."

He also managed many small things: traffic restrictions on Baiyun Mountain, the opening of shuttle buses in Zhujiang New Town, opposition to the cancellation of Cantonese TV, and the promotion of garbage classification... At the hearing, he voiced the voice of consumers for Guangzhou's water, electricity, and taxi charges. Wang Zechu said that Han Zhipeng is good at getting close to the masses and listening to the people's voice.

Zhu Yongping, a representative of the 12th Guangzhou Municipal People's Congress, once participated in the water price hearing with Han Zhipeng as a hearing representative. He recalled that Han Zhipeng visited many neighbors in advance and put forward suggestions with data and reasons, and was specific and detailed to what extent the water price should be adjusted.

"At that time, I had two suggestions involving people's livelihood, and Han Zhipeng supported them very much and called for their promotion in the media." Zhu Yongping told the reporter of China Youth Daily and China Youth Network.

"Han Zhipeng performed his duties conscientiously and fulfilled his social responsibilities in a lively and colorful manner, leaving an impression on the people." Meng Hao, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told the China Youth Daily and China Youth Network reporter, "The people remember him because he targeted the gaps in people's livelihood, spoke out boldly, and filled the gaps for government decision-making."

Han Zhipeng once said that he was not fighting alone, and his confidence and persistence came from his selflessness.

On July 18, 2024, 69-year-old Han Zhipeng passed away. Before his death, he told his family to keep a low profile in handling his affairs after his death. When interviewed by the media, the most common comment from the neighbors in Tongdewei was, "He is a good man."

China Youth Daily and China Youth Network reporter Wei Xi Source: China Youth Daily

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