Ever since China opened up to the world in 1980's, the Shanghai Municipal Government, led by the Communist Party of China and the State Council, makes great effort to build the city into an international economic, financial, trade and shipping center. With the cooperation and hardwork of Shanghai people, the city is progressing to its goal as a global metropolitan. The new team of leaders of the Shanghai government took office in February 2003. "The power of the government is entrusted by the people; the interest of people is above all," as Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng promise in his inaugural. Guided by the Shanghai Party Committee, the city's new leadership vows to strictly perform its official duties; to make significant progress in self-improvement, and to intensify the shift of its role from administrative to public service. The Shanghai government will build itself into a service government that would share with the people all their happiness and troubles; a solid responsible government that is efficient, honest and diligent; a law-abiding government that respects legal system and rules strictly and impartially.

101 Licenses Canceled: Shanghai completed liquidation of all exiting administrative licenses

11/19/2004

The Law of the People's Republic of China on Administrative Licenses that will formally come into force on July 1st, 2004 are pushing the governmental functions to realize material breakthroughs. It is reported that Shanghai has, after nearly half year of hard efforts, roughly completed liquidation of all exiting administrative licenses. There are 101 among Shanghai-created 202 administrative licenses ready for cancellations after liquidation, amounting 50% of the total number.
Along with the "official seals" not in line with the Law on Administrative Licenses are to lose their powers of administrative review and approval, government departments at all levels are reinforcing the supporting systematic construction, and trying their best to shift the governmental functions truly to economic adjustment, market supervision, social administration, and public services.
Both implementation dates of the Law on Administrative Licenses and Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on Publication of Government Information are two important chronicle nodes for Shanghai's governments at all levels to focus on their own betterment. Putting the Law on Administrative Licenses into actual effect is one of the top important issues for them. It is reported that Shanghai's liquidation of administrative licenses was launched in December of last year. The number of administrative licenses involved in this liquidation and created by laws, regulations, rules, and government regulatory documents is 1241, among which 1039 are created by the state, amounting 83.7% of the total number, and 202 by Shanghai herself, amounting 16.3%. Among 101 administrative licenses ready to be canceled, 36 are created by the local regulations, and 65 are by government rules. 93 administrative licenses can, after liquidation, continue their effects provided, however, that over 70 licenses are not in line with relevant provisions of the Law on Administrative Licenses in aspects of licensing conditions, procedures, etc, and shall be subject to further amendment to the related regulations and rules.
In order to make up the administrative management vacuum after cancellation of certain administrative licenses, Shanghai is going to adopt the supporting adjustment measures simultaneously upon cancellation of 5 administrative licenses in order to continue the effective administration, which includes implementation of back-up record management for administrative bodies that may master necessary information and conduct ex post facto supervision and proceeding supervision. For instance, cancellation of license to urgent and temporary blood collection by medical first aid institutions requires ex post facto report to the health administrative authority for reference
Subject to the Law on Administrative Licenses, no department of the municipal government or district/county government shall be entitled to set administrative licenses. Accordingly, all departments of district/county government of this city did a big cleaning to all kinds of administrative licenses created by various regulatory documents in order to ensure the void official seals will cease effect as scheduled. Huangpu District invited deputies of the people's congress, members of the CPPCC and special supervisors to conduct the particular inspection based upon liquidation of licenses. The highlights are given to legality of administrative licenses, enforcement subject, licensing procedures, and relevant charging. Luwan District liquidated and amended all in-use sample documents of application and review and approval tables for administrative licenses, and announced the liquidation results of administrative licenses to the public on CATV and the government's official website.
Baoshan District established and bettered the detailed work flow and relevant systems to enforce licenses, and publicize the lists of enforcement subject of administrative licenses of the district through all kinds media within the district. With regard to liquidation of charging for administrative licenses,
Shanghai Development Planning Commission, Shanghai Finance Bureau and the Legislative Affairs Office of the Municipal Government made joint deployment. At present, studies and trainings on this Law have been launched. About 100 officials at the bureau level, 120 officials in charge of governmental legal affairs and 40,000 law enforcement officials in this city have participated in such studies and trainings. Supporting system construction of administrative licenses are being conducted, too. It is reported that the relevant departs are accelerating the forward-looking study to make full preparation for deepening reform of administrative review and approval system.

The Shanghai government 2006