The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has selected 2006 to be the year of administrative reforms. One of the targets set by the HCMC authority is to professionalize the working manner of civil servants. The Sai Gon Giai Phong reporters have been to several public offices to find out what is going on.
The HCMC Department of Planning and Investment is always very crowded with people coming to registrate for business.
The paper-receiving office of District 1 is divided into small sections. People just have to put their papers in separate booths, take their number in order and wait for their turn. The voice from a loudspeaker repeatedly gave instructions.
The room is full of people but still quiet. Mrs. Quach Anh Tu, a 67-year-old pensioner, says, “With the reformed working manner like this, we do not hesitate to go to public offices. It takes only 10 to 20 minutes to have your papers back. I like the polite manner of office workers here”.
In another sections, people seem to be quite pleasant and relaxed. Dao Thi Van, who resides in Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, came with her housing papers to be verified. She is the last one there, when it is 11:45 a.m. She says in delight: “I only waited half an hour. I thought it was too late and decided to go home. But some officials called me back. They were so kind to deal with my papers when it was so late!”
However, the pleasure does not exist everywhere. In Thu Duc District, for example, many civil servants leave their desks to read newspapers or talk on cellphones. They take no notice of the reminder in front of their office which writes “Civil servants are not allowed to use mobile phones during work-time”.
