40% Chinese dissatisfied with local govt services
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-02-26 14:20

More than 40 percent of Chinese residents are dissatisfied with the services provided by local government departments, according to a survey released recently by the Horizon Research Group.

The survey, based on 3,258 residents aged between 18 and 60 years old from China's ten large cities and eight small towns, shows that 43.3 percent of small town residents and 40.7 percent of city dwellers surveyed are displeased with the local government service, reported the China Youth Daily.

Meanwhile, the departments of the central government receive the highest satisfaction rate among the respondents and the satisfaction rate is decreasing with the level of government departments descending.

Chinese residents turn to some local government departments for such issues as marriage registration, social security and credential application, and file complaints to the governments if they encounter illegal practices.

The survey also shows that despite their dissatisfaction, many people are unwilling to file complaints, for more than 60 percent of the surveyed believe "the government could not solve the problems even if they complained" and 40 percent think that "government departments often ignore the public complaints."

Experts urged the departments concerned to take concrete reform measures to provide better public services and even remove officials responsible from their posts.

"To hammer out a people-oriented government is not just a slogan but requires governments at various levels and functionaries to make real efforts to provide qualified services to the people," said the Dazhong Daily in a comment.

In December 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao called on the nation to boost development for the people and by the people and ensure they enjoy the fruit of development.

"We must work energetically to solve the problems that concern the people most and are related to their fundamental interests," said Hu during an inspection tour of Qinghai Province in the northwest.

The survey covered 10 cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Shenyang, Xi'an, Dalian, Xiamen and Jinan, and eight towns such as Beining in Liaoning and Pengzhou in Sichuan.