Residents in Beijing are now enjoying thoughtful public services as wide use of data analyzing technologies helps the metropolis launch targeted efforts to address some of the most urgent public concerns.
This winter the resident service hotline center in Beijing recorded a noticeable drop in the received complaints on heating supply.
The improvement is credited to the proactive efforts made by the city's heat supply sector starting from summer. The previous complaint records provided by the hotline center help the heat companies conduct early repairs on Beijing's heating systems.
"We have been actively pushing forward works like cleaning and checking the pipes. We received 61 percent less complaints compared with the same period last year," said Zhao Mengqi, vice director of the Balizhuang Center of Beijing Jingneng Thermal Company Limited.
Big data is also helping Beijing in organizing targeted efforts to address some of the biggest concerns of its residents like limited parking lots and installing elevators in old residential buildings.
"By analyzing a great number of data generated from our residents' complaints we can make a lot of reports, forecasts and research, which can later be handed over to the municipal Party committee and the municipal government to help the officials make scientific decisions," said Meng Tianguang, professor of the school of social sciences of Tsinghua University.
To address residents' biggest concerns high on the agenda, the government service bureau in Beijing has also improved its efficiency with an AI system being put into use.
"Next year, we will work more proactively, focusing on the 13 biggest concerns of our residents including the medical service and prepaid consumption," said Shen binhua, director of the Beijing Municipal Administration and Data Management Bureau.
Beijing improves public service through big data analysis
A growing number of Macao citizens are embracing the opportunities for cross-border employment in Hengqin of Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province, achieving professional growth while enjoying the convenience of a dual-city lifestyle.
One such individual is Hoi Peng, a Macao-born lawyer practicing in Hengqin. Since the establishment of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin in 2021, Hoi has taken advantage of the new opportunities to open a joint venture law firm.
The firm offers cross-border legal services to clients and businesses in Macao and the mainland on Hong Kong- and Macao-related affairs.
"There are more opportunities in the (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao) Greater Bay Area and In-depth Cooperation Zone, which provide a bigger stage for our work. In addition to opening a joint law firm, I also obtained the qualification to practice law in the Greater Bay Area, allowing me to handle cases on the mainland," said Hoi.
With her business flourishing, Hoi moved her family from Macao to Hengqin, embarking on a dual-city lifestyle that brings both professional opportunities and everyday convenience.
"It's a new world for us. I often recommend my friends to move to Hengqin. The living environment here is more spacious than in Macao, and it's incredibly convenient. For example, products ordered online are delivered directly to our doorstep," she said.
Like Hoi, Macao restaurateur Tong Sio Kun also reaped unexpected benefits of cross-border entrepreneurship. A few years ago, Tong opened a restaurant in Hengqin, supported by favorable policies like rent subsidies and business incentives.
With a focus on creating unique dishes, Tong's restaurant saw a significant increase in customer traffic. Within just a few months, she recouped her initial investment and made a profit.
"Over the past few years, we've seen returns, and our business has grown several times in size. I'm confident that I will open three more restaurants in Hengqin within the next two years," Tong said. In recent years, Macao citizens have found it increasingly easy to practice their professions on the mainland. Professionals such as tour guides, lawyers, architects, and pharmacists are now allowed to work across borders. In addition, culinary, beauty, and catering qualifications are mutually recognized between Guangdong and Macao.
As integration between Hengqin and Macao picks up speed, more and more Macao talents are choosing to live and work in Hengqin. By July this year, the number of Macao-funded enterprises in the In-depth Cooperation Zone had reached 6,365, up nearly 40 percent from three years ago. By September, more than 20,000 people from Macao were living and working in Hengqin.
Macao citizens enjoy cross-border opportunities, dual-city lifestyle in Hengqin
Macao citizens enjoy cross-border opportunities, dual-city lifestyle in Hengqin
