Shenzhen has tried to build a clean and efficient government. Residents can dial 12345 to consult or lodge complaints with 56 government departments and agencies. The hotline system, costing 32 million yuan, offers 24-hour services in Putonghua, Cantonese, English and several other languages. The lobby at Shenzhen Citizen's Center, the city's council hall, offers one-stop services like registrations and license applications to various governmental departments. Electronic monitors are installed behind each service window so that the whole process of license applications can be recorded for further investigation. Applications for 239 administrative permits to 38 government departments are monitored by the system.

The government has undertaken four reforms concerning administrative permits to improve efficiency. Some previous mandatory permits were canceled. The time needed to get the go-ahead for big investment projects has been reduced by more than 60 percent after such reforms.

The government has also tried to tighten supervision so that administrative powers are limited, expenses audited and services evaluated. The city has launched the "Accountability Storm" to improve efficiency, which includes a series of new rules on executive officials' accountability, administrative permits issuers' accountability and punishments for unscrupulous civil servants. The government has also completed a guidebook for evaluating the performances of its departments, taking into account overall performance, efficiency, ability in management and administrative costs.