In 2005, 96.1 percent of the 76 ministries and bureaus directly under the State Council, China's cabinet, had set up their own websites, 2.7 percent more than in 2004, according to a report released on Wednesday.

The report, prepared by CCID Company, shows that in 2005, 81.3 percent of local governments in China owned their websites, 8.4 percent higher than in 2004.

According to the report, 28 of China's 31 provincial governments had websites in 2005, the same as in 2004; and 316, or 94.9 percent of the 333 prefecture-level cities, had websites, 1.8 percent higher than in 2004.

Prefecture-level cities without official websites were mainly located in western China.

According to the survey conducted in 408 county-level governments, 287 counties, or 77.7 percent, had government websites, 8.4 percent higher than in 2004.

The report said most governmental websites in China are not efficient enough. Ministerial and provincial governmental websites are more efficient than those of cities, and those of cities are more efficient than those of counties.

Most government websites are still weak in releasing information on budgets, official appointments and removals, the report said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2006)