Facilitating government services and adding legal protection. On November 23, the 6th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th Provincial People's Congress reviewed and approved the Guangdong Provincial Regulations on Digitalization of Government Services (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations), which will come into effect on January 1, next year. This is the first digital regulation on government services in the country. The Regulations clearly state that it is necessary to promote the online and offline indiscriminate acceptance and standardized handling of government service matters, and require that government service matters that have already been processed online retain offline service channels for applicants to choose independently. In terms of improving the convenience of government services, the Regulations specify that government service institutions should rely on the provincial integrated government service platform, promote innovation in government service models and integration of digital technology applications, and achieve one-stop government services. The provincial integrated government service platform uses Guangdong Government Service Network as the online main portal. Unless otherwise provided by laws and regulations or involving state secrets, government service matters shall be included in the provincial integrated government service platform for processing. In terms of handling matters, the Regulations require government service institutions to promote the integration of the entire process of government services online, and promote the indiscriminate acceptance and standardized handling of government service matters online and offline. For the convenience of the masses in handling affairs, the Regulations mention that government service centers, convenience service centers, and convenience service stations are encouraged to provide convenient services for applicants, such as appointment processing, delayed processing, and holiday processing. At the same time, it is clear that for government service matters that have already been processed online, offline service channels should be retained for the applicant to choose independently. When the applicant handles business offline, the government service agency shall not force the applicant to make an appointment online or submit application materials online first. The issue of data security has recently received increasing social attention. The Regulations make clear requirements for this. Government service data management institutions and government service institutions at or above the county level shall establish and improve government service data security management systems in accordance with laws, regulations, and national standards, implement data security protection responsibilities, and take technical and other necessary measures to ensure the operation and data security of government service platforms. If entrusting service providers to build, operate, and maintain government service platforms, they shall supervise the service providers to fulfill their data security protection obligations. The Regulations also stipulate that if government service agencies need to verify the identity of service recipients through biometric technology, they should have a clear and reasonable purpose and sufficient necessity, obtain separate consent from service recipients, and take strict data protection measures. In addition, the Regulations have made institutional arrangements for the government service work in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, stipulating that cooperation with relevant institutions in Hong Kong and Macao should be strengthened in the digitization of government services, promoting the construction of a cross domain communication mechanism for government services in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting the docking of public support platforms, innovating cross domain business scenarios and service models for government services in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, and accelerating the construction of the digital bay area. (Lai Xin She)