Chinese govt. office "too busy to fuss with" public

Beijing, Aug. 24 (ANI): A Chinese citizen who filed an online complaint to a government department was told: "Our office is too busy to fuss with you. Come to the office and face us."

The shocking reply from the city landscaping office in Yingcheng, Hubei province came albeit a new set of regulations binding government departments to promptly respond to Internet complaints.

The reply has left netizens absolutely outraged about the attitude of government department.

"I can't believe officials talk so naively these days. This is almost uncivilized language. To tell you the truth, I'm pretty disappointed to see this kind of response from Chinese officials," China Daily quoted Wu Hai, as saying.

"This is such a disgrace for officials in China," wrote another netizen.

The Yingcheng government's reply came after a local resident named "Freezing Smile" suggested that local officials should visit a deserted landscaping site left uncared for along a pedestrian street in the city.

It was posted to the Letters to the Mayor section on the official government website.

"Will the Party and local residents be satisfied with such an inactive government institution like our landscape office?" the post said.

Under public pressure Sunday, the government in Yingcheng apologized and promised to punish the officials responsible.

"Leaders of the city's landscape office have filed a written explanation to the Party and the city government. They apologize to all netizens and have already repaired the pedestrian street that the residents have complained about," a statement from Yingcheng government said.

Official government websites normally run a section that allows residents to file online complaints that have ranged from reports of pollution to corruption appeals.

Officials are required to reply to each online complaint and may get warned or blacklisted if they fail to do so. (ANI)