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tarting this Saturday, the city administration will open City Hall to the public on weekends for free in a new program called the City Hall Tour.

General affairs bureau head Agustino Dharmawan, who is in charge of the building, said that the City Hall Tour hoped to introduce the city administration to residents.

'€œWe want residents to come to City Hall to understand more about the Jakarta administration,'€ Agustino told reporters at City Hall on Wednesday.

Agustino pointed out that the main attractions in the tour would include the Jakarta Handicraft Council (Dekranasda) gallery, a culinary and souvenir center, the Jakarta Smart City showcase at the Balai Agung room, and a reception room nearby the governor'€™s workroom.

The Dekranasda gallery, located in City Hall'€™s block G building, sells handicrafts made by Jakartan artists. Its collection includes not only high-end fashion but also affordable knick-knacks.

The vendors at the culinary center, situated in the courtyard of the block G building, are those whose food has undergone testing with the Food and Drugs Monitoring Agency. Agustino said that visitors could enjoy live music from the city'€™s street musicians while eating.

'€œVisitors may also enter the governor'€™s reception room, which has a very nice interior with pictures of past governors,'€ Agustino said, adding that the governor'€™s work room was off limits for safety reasons.

He further said that visitors could learn of Jakarta'€™s Smart City program in a showcase held in the Balai Agung room at City Hall'€™s main building.

'€œWe will also provide tour guides who will explain the history of City Hall. Foreign tourists are welcome to visit as well because our tour guides can speak English,'€ Agustino said.

Visitors, however, must follow two rules: no littering and no smoking. '€œAround 40 Satpol PP [Public Order Agency] officers will stand guard at all times to maintain safety and make sure visitors follow the rules,'€ he said.

Visitors with private vehicles, Agustino went on, may park at the City Council building or the IRTI parking lot at the National Monument (Monas) complex across from City Hall. Vehicles parked on the street would be towed by the Transportation Agency.

The City Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for activities inside the building and until 8 p.m. for outdoor activities.

Separately, Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama said that he would personally attend the launch of the City Hall Tour on Saturday. He said that he encouraged residents to visit City Hall so that they could attain a better understanding of the city administration.