Guangzhou streamlines fee charges
By Qiu Quanlan (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-10-25 22:27

Guangzhou is looking to cut the red tape.

The southern city plans to eliminate 44 administrative charges and reduce the costs of two other charges this year, sources with the Price Control Administration of Guangzhou said yesterday.

Those charges range from annual inspection fees of driving licences and audio-visual products sales administration fees to registration fees levied on private and foreign-funded enterprises, the sources said.

Qiu Yitong, vice-director of the administration, said yesterday that the move aims to better streamline the city's investment environment and cut red tape.

There are currently 437 types of administrative charges from 54 government departments in the city.

The administrative charges amounted to 6.6 billion yuan (US$798 million) last year, according to the administration.

"The reduction and exemption of such fees will help reduce the financial burdens and administrative procedures for both individuals and enterprises," said Qiu.

It is estimated that the reduced and exempted fees will amount to 11.3 million yuan (US$1.3 million) annually, Qiu said.

The city also began to examine administrative charges early last year, in an effort to reduce random charges.

Early in 2003, Guangzhou began waiving administrative fees in designated zones, including the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Guangzhou Bonded Zone.

In addition, the city eliminated 32 types of such charges early in July last year.

"We will continue to attach great importance to the reduction and exemption of administrative fees in the coming years, in an effort to provide a better investment environment for the city's economic development," said Qiu.

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