VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi Party Committee Secretary Pham Quang Nghi has urged municipal officials not to give to or receive presents from others over Tet.

Nghi was speaking at a meeting attended by 2,500 Ha Noi officials on Tuesday in the capital. He also requested local authorities to ease congestion at public hospitals and to improve environmental and urban management.

"Let's not give presents this Tet holiday. Also decline to accept presents from others. We are in positions of responsibility. Let's set a good example," Nghi said.

He said that there was a widely held belief among the public that officials bribed their way into top jobs.

"We order you and hope that you support under-privileged households who have contributed to the country's revolutions to ensure everyone has a pleasant Tet," Nghi said.

He also said that a number of high-ranking officials had not adequately fulfilled their duties.

Nghi cited the case of the junction between Cao Ba Quat and Le Duan streets that is being littered by those offering motorbike services. "If it rains lightly and the wind picks up, this rubbish will find its way into the sewerage system. I get the distinct impression that district – and ward-level authorities don't care about the problem," he said.

Nghi also urged the city's health department to work closer with other authorities to ease overcrowding in urban hospitals. "Over the last few decades we have launched a number of real estate projects. Why then haven't we built new hospitals?" he said

He said most hospitals in central Ha Noi had only been refurbished or enlarged. The shortage of hospitals has made life difficult for both patients and doctors. The situation is the same in other places in the country. It has been reported that everyday, 6,000 patients have to share hospital beds in the capital, even in the biggest hospitals.

However, he admitted that there was a shortage of space for new hospitals. He also said that permission granted to a Korean company to build a hospital in Tu Liem District should be revoked because the project had yet to get off the ground. "After five to six years, they haven't done anything. We should revoke planning permission and do the job ourselves," he said.

In 2011, the city plans to reduce the crime rate by 5 to 10 per cent. According to the deputy head of Ha Noi's Police Department, Tran Thuy, in 2010 there were 5,709 reported crimes in the capital, 68 more than in 2009.

"Among those cases, the number of serious and complex cases was significant," he said.

Ha Noi police also said there were 20,000 known drug addicts in the city – 472 fewer than the previous year. He added that there were 29 drug-abuse hotspots.

In 2010, the police said there were 78 traffic-congestion hotspots – a situation aggravated by the number of new vehicles on the roads. From January to November 30, there were 48,287 cars and 338,512 motorbikes newly registered in the city, an increase of more than 10,000 cars and 120,000 motorbikes against the previous year.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News