Officials are looking at cutting red tape to enable people in medium and large cities to travel abroad more freely.

Masterminding the reform is the Ministry of Public Security, with a deadline of 2005 set for the introduction of any changes.

It will run a pilot programme in Shanghai on Sunday where citizens can receive passports just by showing their ID cards or residence booklets.

It marks a sea change in procedure. Applicants previously had to submit written documents together with permission from their employers.

Hao Zhiyong, director of the ministry's Exit-Entry Administration, told a press conference yesterday that the system was ready to be rolled out next year.

"Preparation work has been carried out since last November when Shanghai was listed as one of the pilot cities for the reform," said Cheng Jiulong, deputy director of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

"The simplified procedure will be a radical change, and it may pave the ground for the city's further opening up."

Ministry officials said the new practice has been trialled in Zhongshan, Shunde and seven other cities in South China's Guangdong Province, before its launch in Shanghai.

It has also been implemented in Fushun of Liaoning Province, Zibo in Shandong Province and Qionghai in Hainan Province.

Shanghai is the largest city in China and is home to 16.8 million people, including more than 3 million migrant workers.

"In the first half of this year, 180,000 locals entered or left the city of Shanghai, up 20 per cent on the same period last year," Cheng said.

However, public security officials stressed that not all citizens can get passports by using the simplified procedure.

"Officials at or above departmental level, and employees at some important and confidential positions must ask for permission from their administrations," said Yang Naixing, deputy director of Shanghai's Exit-Entry Administration Department.

In addition, fugitives and those involved in ongoing civil lawsuits will not be given passports.

"Our test on a network for this proved to be successful," Yang said.

Citizens can go to 100 post offices throughout the city for applications as well as police stations, increasing convenience for busy business folk. Applicants are expected to receive passports within 10 working days.

In addition, people from the provinces who have worked in the city's joint ventures for more than a year can apply for passports for business trips in the city.

The passport issuance reform is one of six major changes recommended by an exit and entry administration meeting held in November.

Other suggested changes included procedures for mainlanders travelling and doing business in Hong Kong and Macao. Procedures were first simplified in December.

A "green card" system is also being considered as part of a major shake-up of exit and entry administration.

The system will make it easier for overseas professionals and investors to come to China.

( China Daily August 30, 2002)