Beijing has begun long-awaited trials to change the use of official government cars in three of the capital city's districts.

Transport subsidies have been given to government staff below section chief level in Beijing's Haidian, Fangshan and Pinggu districts, the Beijing Times reported.

The strategy should save money on maintaining official cars at so many levels of government.

But officials above section chief level and staff of public security departments, procuratorates and courts in the three districts are not involved in the changes, sources said.

At the moment, various local governments keep cars for the official use of their staff.

In Wenquan Town, Haidian District, public owned cars will be replaced with 1,300 yuan (US$157) to 1,500 yuan (US$180) a month in cash subsidies for officials at section chief level.

Ordinary government staff will get 300 yuan (US$36) to 500 yuan (US$60).

They are required to pay for using official cars after the reform, sources said.

The Beijing Times reported that most government staff involved in the reform now are entertaining the idea of buying their own cars.

"They believe the subsidy could cover the cost of commuting for official purposes," the local newspaper said.

Some lower-level staff have complained the subsidies were not enough.

"I have only several hundred yuan per month for transport. But it's not enough even to cover the cost for metro or bus," a member of staff named Han said.

Lin Yueqin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the reform of official cars should be spread.

He also said senior government officials should also be involved in the change.

"In this way a fair and just reform can be guaranteed," Lin said.

This is the first time any changes have been made to the use of government cars. Beijing was not the first city to try out the changes -- it comes behind 14 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in this regard.

(China Daily December 9, 2004)