New measures cut bureaucracy in Guangdong ( 2003-10-15 08:19) (China Daily)
Residents in South China's Guangdong Province will soon find their lives less
cluttered by bureaucracy, thanks to a host of measures unveiled by the
Provincial Public Security Bureau.
Starting from January 1, 2004, Guangdong residents will be able to apply for
up to nine exit-entry certificates by simply logging on to the Internet or
making a telephone call.
Applications for individual and package tours to Hong Kong and Macao,
individual passport for entering foreign countries are included.
"This is one of the 23 measures adopted to cater the needs and convenience of
the local residents,'' said Zheng Shaodong yesterday, who is the bureau's deputy
director-general.
These measures cover a number of administrative fields, including household
registration, exit-entry, public communications, firefighting and social order.
This was all the result of a broad public consultation exercise, which saw
the bureau and public security bodies at all levels hold 3,300 discussions,
issue around 630,000 questionnaires and interview nearly 110,000 residents.
This was inspired by the 30 measures which were suggested by the Ministry of
Public Security.
According to the measures, people who lose their identity cards can soon
apply for a new one after reporting the case to the authorized department in
charge of the card, instead of having to wait for three months.
Local resident Zhao Hao may be the first beneficiary of the new policy.
He lost his identity card one week before his flight to Dalian, a coastal
city in Northeast China's Liaoning Province. "I couldn't go on board without
showing my identity card along with my flight ticket,'' he said.
But the flight ticket has been ordered 15 days previously, he added.
However, he finally got on board yesterday, the first day that the new
measures came into force.
Local residents are also pleased with measures such as no longer having to go
to designated shops to get their photos taken for identity cards or exit-entry
certificates.
And enterprises that require 50 or more temporary residence certificates for
their employees at one time can now pass the paperwork over to relevant
department instead of having to handle it themselves.
"The 23 measures are just the beginning, we will
continue our efforts to meet residents' needs,'' said Zheng.
