But as of yesterday, prior to Shang's interview, the liaison office of Rui'an, eastern Zhejiang province was operating as normal.

"We haven't received any notice on the closure of our office," said Wu Lidian, the liaison office chief.

Rui'an is a county-level city under Wenzhou, a coastal city in East China known for its businessmen operating worldwide.

The five-person office led by Wu was established as early as in 1994, when China's market economy was just taking off.

Wu has been working at the office since 1998.

"Good connections facilitate work," Wu said of his role.

But his broad contacts may no longer be of any use, as the country is squeezing whatever lobbying room is left for him and his colleagues by improving systems of appropriation and governance, Shang said.

Wu insisted that the existence of liaison offices has its reasons, even though he agreed there are too many of them now.

On behalf of a small county-level city like Rui'an, Wu's routine work consists of attracting investors, maintaining the stability of Beijing, giving receptions and defending the rights of about 40,000 Rui'an people living in the capital.

"The central government has a number of other things to consider," he said.

However, liaison offices set up by higher-level regional governments, such as the provincial governments, can take over the responsibilities of Wu and related personnel, Shang said.