The rank and file have much easier access to government
information, and their opinions are taken into serious
consideration in government decisions, sources from the Suzhou
government said.
"To enhance openness and transparency of administrative powers,
we have taken actions to facilitate the information exchanges
between the government and the public," said Li Fang, deputy head
of the Suzhou Publicity Department.
One optional channel is the Internet. All municipal departments
have opened websites, on which local residents can find information
they need and give opinions on matters concerning public and
personal interests through e-mails and the mayor's letter box,
etc.
"Information on government decisions, department policies and so
on must be publicized on the Internet to let people know what the
government is doing," said Li.
To improve work efficiency, the Suzhou Social Service Centre was
set up in 2002. All municipal administrative departments have
reception desks there to provide quick service to the public.
"The administrative work efficiency has been greatly improved,"
said Wang Jianping, who was there applying for a passport. "We only
need to come here to fill in the forms and things will be done in
the designated time."
Each department's performance is also supervised closely to
ensure quality service.
"The work procedure is very much standardized and we must, for
example, complete the licensing within 5 days, or people can file
complaints against us," said Tang Juan, a staffer at the desk of
Suzhou Industry and Commerce Bureau, who was checking all the
papers a customer provided for the opening of a grocery store.
"We can easily find out the real performance of government
departments in the centre from the computer," said Chen Yongli, a
representative from the city supervision bureau stationed in the
centre.
What is more, the mayor can learn about the administrative
execution of powers from his office computer, which is connected to
the terminal in the centre.
To inform the public of the latest government administrative
work, information regarding decisions and policies is released at
regular press conferences and revealed through the media, thus
shortening the distance between government and citizens.
Another innovative project in Suzhou is the public information
booths in communities and on the street sidewalks.
Started in 2005 as part of a transparent government project, 350
booths have been installed in the city proper. From the booths,
people can use touch-screens to find information related to
government policies, job hunting, etc. Altogether 1,000 booths will
be built by the end of 2009, reaching every community.
Issues concerning people's immediate interests are highest on
the government's agenda and receive special attention.
Any government decisions related to people's interests are first
discussed at expert consultation sessions and then taken to
hearings for further confirmation before they can be finalized and
put into practice.
(China Daily February 14, 2007)