New rules for NGOs to improve operations(2)

"A direct registration policy will greatly boost their development and help these organizations to become better service providers," he said.

Nineteen provinces have been encouraged to launch pilot programs for direct registration since 2011.

South China's Guangdongprovince rolled out the direct registration policy in July for eight types of NGOs, and last year saw 4,200 NGOs registered in the province.

Liu Zhouhong, secretary-general of the Narada Foundation, a private charity in Beijing, said the real effect of the national reform on registration should be measured over time.

"There are many other barriers in terms of registration for NGOs. Some local registration authorities may feel reluctant to grant too many NGOs legal identities, worrying that they will be blamed for overseeing malpractice by registered organizations," he said.

In addition, some registration requirements, such as benchmarks for seed capital, facilities and personnel, seem difficult to meet for many small grassroots NGOs, he said.

"Plus, registration is one, but not the only, factor for the thriving of NGOs in China. We are concerned about whether the government will abolish the tax for donations and whether NGOs can enjoy a looser policy for fundraising," he added.