Non-stop progress of one-stop centers

One-stop services have been provided on 169 items at community service centers, the city's civil affairs authorities announced yesterday.

These services involve 11 government departments, and include housing, medical insurance and social security.

Residents are able to apply for services at 220 community affairs service centers, 67 sub-centers and online, according to Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

The mechanism also lifts the residence permit restrictions, allowing people to apply for services at any center. Previously, they had to visit the designated center based on their residence permits.

"It is really time-saving because I live in Baoshan District, and my hukou (permanent residence permit) is for the Pudong New Area," said Wu Jun, who visited a center in Huangpu District near her work place yesterday.

Meanwhile, Zhuqiao Town, in the rural part of Pudong, started building a one-stop admin service center for residents and companies yesterday.

Following the success in urban areas, suburban areas have also stepped up efforts to streamline their administrative affairs, offering convenience to local people and attracting new businesses.

The current center can only handle 700 people per day so deals with very few administrative matters. In the old part of the town, it cannot be expanded due to lack of space, so a new facility is to be built.

The new center will occupy more than 12,000 square meters, and deal with 236 items including employment, household registration and social security. The work is expected to take two years.

Once completed, residents will be able to deal with almost everything at the center.