'114' has shifted. No longer is it a simple yellow pages service
hotline to obtain telephone numbers and addresses for restaurants
and hotels. From yesterday, '114' in Zhejiang Province has begun service as a
telephone exchange for the local government, the Zhejiang
Daily reported today.
The service was launched by the Zhejiang provincial government
and the provincial telecom company. Government at all levels
province-wide published about 8,000 phone numbers for government
affairs transparency, making it very difficult for the public to
know which number to call for which issue.
Now all the public need do is dial '114' before being put
through to the desired department. In case no answer is
forthcoming, they will be able to leave a voice message and the
call will be returned.
According to statistics, '114' receives about 60,000 calls every
day in the province, for government affairs and convenient
information consultancy. The practice is the first in the
country.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing November 28, 2006)