It wasn't too long ago that the vast majority of Chinese wore nondescript Mao-style coats and caps in muted grays and blues-bringing uniformity to a population where individual dress styles were frowned upon. Times and tastes have changed. Today the country's streets are ablaze with the most up-to-date clothing trends from around the world, reflecting the preferences and growing wealth of Chinese consumers.

But Ye Hongming, a professor at Shuren University in east China's Zhejiang Province, recently suggested a return to the "one look for all" ethos when he advocated that civil servants in governments at all levels should wear uniforms. Ye even gave details of what he had in mind when he said rank-and-file civil servants, as well as state leaders, should wear suits, while traditional Chinese dress should be worn on occasions where Western suits are not suitable.

Ye, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, is disenchanted with the new breed of male civil servants who wear T-shirts and jeans, while their female colleagues parade the hallowed halls of power in strap dresses, mini-skirts and sandals during working hours. In his opinion, this mode of dress is not suitable for the solemn atmosphere of government departments.

His suggestion to standardize civil servants' work suits has won many supporters, who believe that uniforms will not only bring harmony to the workplace, but they will also be a constant reminder to these officials of the role they play in society.

It's all about image, as far as Ye is concerned, and with the increasing global exchanges between China and others, he said it is necessary to encourage Chinese to follow professional protocol on formal occasions. To wear a uniform is a common practice in many countries and it has become a basic etiquette criterion, Ye said.

However, China's poor record of monitoring public funds has made people suspicious of this suggestion, with many believing the undoubtedly large sums of money required for outfitting the legion of civil servants will provide just another opportunity for corrupt officials to skim off the top and fatten their own wallets.

At the same time, not all are convinced this is the best way of smartening up the government's image. Critics say China's varied climate, vast interior and different nature of the duties of civil servants make it impossible to impose one type of dress code on all. They say the government should spend more time on tangible benefits for the public, rather than trying to enhance its reputation by outfitting its staff.

Appropriate dress important

Lin Dashou (Henan Commercial Daily): Is it necessary for civil servants to wear uniforms? What's the significance of doing so? Take the police uniform for example. Police officers wear uniforms to deter would-be criminals, which helps safeguard and maintain public security. Also, by doing so, they are trying to strengthen the public's confidence in them and also give the public a good impression.

But is it necessary for civil servants to have uniforms? In other words, is it necessary for government departments to achieve a good image in this way? It's true that there are many ways for the government to build up a good reputation among the people, like improving services. However, civil servants represent the government, so if they are dressed improperly, it's not only a bad reflection of themselves, but also damages the government's image.

Many countries and regions require their civil servants to wear suits. Last year, some local governments issued a list of regulations to standardize the protocol among civil servants. Although strict, these regulations are aimed at providing civil servants with a level of behavior and etiquette befitting government employees. Wearing a uniform is a part of this process.