The National People's Congress (NPC) has continued to become more hi-tech this year, once again increasing computer and online resources for its deputies.

Wider access for the nearly 3,000 national lawmakers to advanced information services showcases China's fast development in digitization as well as assisting them in fulfilling their roles.

At a cost of up to 1 million yuan (US$120,900), the facilities available to NPC deputies during the 10-day annual session help them better analyze background information, vital in being able to make better and more informed decisions.

Wang Guifen, an officer at the Information Service Center of the General Office of the NPC Standing Committee, said the center has set up an information service desk in the Great Hall of the People for the sixth year in a row.

With 40 on-site computers and four printers online, more than 50 people are working on the service desk.

Staff members help NPC deputies print information they need or copy it onto discs.

They also operate four help lines offering information to NPC deputies calling from their hotels.

Deputies who have access to the internet can log on to the NPC website www.npc.cn to search for information.

"Given our tremendous databank and state-of-the-art technology, we are able to help NPC deputies find any public information they want as soon as possible," Wang told China Daily.

Wang, deputy director of the information service desk, was not exaggerating.

The desk is supported by China's leading information providers, including the National Bureau of Statistics, State Information Center, Development Research Center of the State Council and National Library of China.

Its databank boasts thousands of articles about key topics to be discussed at the meeting, including the proposed anti-secession law, economic development, employment and social security.

It also features economic analyses by noted economists, statistical bulletins for all 31 mainland provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, as well as the country's top 500 enterprises.

"We hope our services can help deputies play their supervisory role better and put forward more valuable suggestions," Wang said.

Lu Dong, an NPC deputy from Shaanxi Province, said the information service desk has been really convenient for lawmakers.

"The figures and documents provided by them enable us to examine government reports in a more critical way," he said. "That in turn will ensure NPC deputies help the government formulate the right development strategy and policy."

In fact, an increasing number of NPC deputies as well as members of the National Committee of CPPCC, China's top advisory body, have learned to make good use of the information service.

When the information desk was first set up in 1999 with 10 staff members, only a small number of NPC deputies and CPPCC members knew how to use it, Wang said.

Many of those who accessed it just searched for their own profiles posted on the website out of curiosity, proving that none of us are immune to 'ego surfing.'

Now, more and more NPC deputies and CPPCC members are bringing laptop computers with them and their demand for information is increasing at an expansive rate.

Wang said that last year more than 1,200 NPC deputies and 200 CPPCC members asked for help from the information desk.

(China Daily March 7, 2005)