Published by ChinaMNC · Taoyuan
Navigating Government Information Access in Changde: A Guide for Foreign Founders
A practical overview of how foreign founders can obtain government information from the Changde Municipal People's Government, including disclosure rules, application procedures, and response times.
Accessing Government Information in Changde: What Foreign Founders Need to Know
For foreign founders establishing or operating a business in Changde, understanding how to access government information is essential for compliance and informed decision-making. The Changde Municipal People's Government has published a guide outlining the procedures for obtaining government information, based on the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Open Government Information (State Council Order No. 711). This article summarizes the key points from that guide, tailored for foreign entrepreneurs.
Proactive Disclosure: Information Available Without Request
The government operates on the principle that disclosure is the norm and non-disclosure is the exception. It proactively publishes information that affects public interests, requires broad public awareness, or needs public participation in decision-making, in accordance with Articles 20 and 21 of the Regulations. Foreign founders can access such information through multiple channels:
- Official WeChat Account: Follow the "Changde Municipal People's Government" WeChat public account by searching for that name on WeChat or scanning the QR code provided on the government website.
- Changde Municipal People's Government Gazette: Paper copies are available at the Changde Municipal Archives and the Changde Municipal Government Service Center. Electronic versions can be found on the government portal's "Government Gazette" column (URL: https://www.changde.gov.cn/zwgk/zfgb/index.html).
- Government Service Centers: Information can also be accessed at the following locations:
- Citizen's Home, 1st Floor, Intersection of Langzhou North Road and Yueliang Avenue, Changde. Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00 (except national holidays).
- No. 88 Jianshe East Road, Wuling District, Changde. Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00–12:00 and 14:30–17:30 (winter schedule) or 15:00–18:00 (summer schedule) (except national holidays).
Proactively disclosed information is published within 20 working days from the date it is formed or changed, unless other laws or regulations specify a different deadline.
Requesting Information Not Proactively Disclosed
If you need government information beyond what is proactively disclosed, you can file a request. The government will provide the information based on the Regulations and the actual status of the information held; it will not summarize, analyze, process, or create new information in response.
How to Submit a Request
Requests must be made in writing using the Changde Municipal People's Government Information Disclosure Application Form (the "Application Form"). The form is available at the receiving agency or can be downloaded from the government portal. Copies are valid.
Submission methods:
- In person: Submit the completed form directly to the receiving agency.
- By mail: Mark "Government Information Disclosure Application" on the lower left corner of the envelope.
- By fax: Mark "Government Information Disclosure Application" on the fax cover.
- Online: Use the "Application for Disclosure" system in the "Government Information Disclosure" section of the government portal. After submission, you will receive a query code to check the status.
- By email: Send the electronic form to [email protected].
What Happens After Submission
If the request is unclear, the agency will provide guidance and, within 7 working days of receiving the request, notify you once of the specific corrections needed and a reasonable deadline. The response period starts from the date the corrected request is received. If you fail to correct without justified reason, the request will be considered withdrawn.
The agency will respond within 20 working days of receiving the request. If an extension is needed, the head of the government information disclosure office may approve an extension of up to 20 more working days, and you will be notified. Responses may include:
- Providing the requested information or informing you of the manner, channel, and time to obtain it.
- If the information is not within the agency's responsibility, informing you and, if known, providing the name and contact details of the responsible agency.
- If the request is a repeat of a previous request for the same information, informing you that it will not be processed again.
- If the information relates to business registration, real estate registration, or similar matters with special access rules under other laws, informing you to follow those laws.
Fees and Exceptions
The government provides requested information free of charge. However, if the number or frequency of requests clearly exceeds a reasonable range, the agency may charge a fee in accordance with the Measures for the Administration of Information Processing Fees for Government Information Disclosure (Guobanhan [2020] No. 109).
Certain information is not disclosed:
- Information determined by law to be state secrets, information prohibited from disclosure by laws or administrative regulations, and information that could endanger national security, public safety, economic security, or social stability.
- Information involving trade secrets, personal privacy, or other legitimate rights of third parties that would be harmed by disclosure, unless the third party consents or the agency determines that non-disclosure would significantly affect the public interest.
- Process information such as discussion records, drafts, consultation letters, and request reports formed during administrative management, as well as administrative enforcement case files, may be withheld unless laws or regulations require disclosure.
Contact and Oversight
The Changde Municipal People's Government has designated the Changde Municipal Data Bureau (Changde Municipal Administrative Approval Service Bureau) as the government information disclosure office. The Changde Municipal People's Government Office has designated its Comprehensive Second Section as the office handling related matters. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00–12:00 and 14:30–17:30 (winter) or 15:00–18:00 (summer), except national holidays.
If you believe your lawful rights have been infringed in the handling of a request, you may complain to a higher-level administrative organ or the competent department for government information disclosure, or apply for administrative reconsideration or file an administrative lawsuit.
For technical support, contact the Changde Government Website at 0736-7755111. The website is located at 4th Floor, Zhangyu Garden, No. 2533 Liuye Avenue, Wuling District, Changde. ICP Filing No.: Xiang ICP Bei 2024063163-1; Public Security Filing No.: 43070202000545; Website Identification Code: 4307000025.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.