Explanation of the Government Information and Government Affairs Openness Office of The General Office of the State Council on the issue of receiving channels for government information disclosure applications

State Office open Letter (2017) No. 19

Ministry of Water Resources General Office:

The Letter on issues related to the acceptance channels of Business Information Disclosure applications (Office Comprehensive Letter (2017) No. 559) has been received。After studying and soliciting opinions from the Legislative Affairs Office of The State Council, the Supreme People's Court and other units, my reply is as follows:

Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Disclosure of Government Information，Applicants should apply for access to government information in writing, including in the form of data messages，Or it may be submitted orally and an administrative organ may fill in an application for disclosure of government information on behalf of the administrative organ，但是，What channels does the administrative organ use to receive the applicant's application，No specific provisions。In order to further standardize the behavior of administrative organs in receiving government information disclosure applications, on the basis of fully referring to the legal provisions and practical practices in related fields such as receiving administrative license applications and accepting administrative reconsideration applications, the issues related to receiving channels for government information disclosure applications are clarified as follows:

First, "face-to-face submission" and "postal delivery" are the basic channels for government information disclosure applications, and the administrative organ shall not refuse to receive the application for government information disclosure submitted by the applicant through these two basic channels for any reason。

Second, in order to further facilitate applicants and improve work efficiency, administrative organs are encouraged to open diversified application receiving channels such as fax, online application and email in light of their own actual conditions。The administrative organ shall specifically explain the application receiving channels opened by the unit and the specific precautions for use in the guide to the disclosure of government information and announce it to the public, and bear the corresponding legal obligations for the application receiving channels that have been specifically explained and announced。Where the administrative organ fails to make a specific explanation and announcement in accordance with the above requirements, it shall fully respect the applicant's choice。

3. Administrative organs shall strengthen the standardized management of the receiving channels of government information disclosure applications, establish and improve the internal management system, improve the application processing process, prevent the legitimate rights and interests of applicants from being damaged by problems such as omissions, delays, and poor internal connection, and minimize unnecessary administrative disputes。

Office of Government Information and Government Affairs Openness, General Office of the State Council

July 5th, 2017