Ever felt buried in paperwork just to get something simple done? In China’s Hainan Province, digital tools are helping local officials cut red tape, reduce the workload for grassroots staff and deliver public services more efficiently.

Reducing the burden on grassroots officials is also part of the Communist Party of China’s push for rigorous self-governance, a key priority ahead of its upcoming fifth plenary session.

As Hainan develops its free trade port, we look at how digital governance is streamlining government work and making services more accessible to the public.