~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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[Year 2001]

More autonomy for Ho Chi Minh City

HANOI - Vietnam's communist government has issued a decree giving more autonomy to Ho Chi Minh City, including the power to issue bonds and seek loans, state media reported Friday. ``The decree will create conditions to sustain in the best way Ho Chi Minh City's potential, dynamism and creativeness,'' Mayor Le Thanh Hai told Tuoi Tre newspaper. ``The decree creates great joy and inspiration for the city.''

Ho Chi Minh City, previously known as Saigon, is the country's financial hub and produces one-third of its economic output. The decree was issued Wednesday and goes into effect Dec. 27. The decree gives the mayor the power to approve major projects funded by local government. Previously, such projects had to be approved by the prime minister. The city government will also be allowed to issue regulations on land and housing management, and control urban planning.

Deputy Mayor Mai Quoc Binh said the new powers are not enough, adding that the city has asked for the power to create a municipal police force, establish corporations to encourage investment, and change the organization of local governments. ``The decentralization of power is not enough. It only opens initial breakthroughs, but does not settle all the city's pressing issues,'' Binh was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

A government official said recently that if the policy succeeds in Ho Chi Minh City, the central government could expand the model to other major cities in the country.

The Associated Press - December 14, 2001.