South China's Guangdong Province has issued a new stricter code of conduct in an attempt to step up its anti-corruption campaign this year.
According to the Provincial Commission of Discipline Inspection, senior officials in the province will have to record everything owned by themselves, their spouses and their children.
Besides bank deposits, they must reveal other items, such as securities, houses and cars.
Officials will be banned from accepting sponsorship or other benefits from individuals or organizations related to their administrative duties.
They must not accept trips abroad from Chinese enterprises and if they do go overseas any expenses must be within set budgets.
For the first time, clear codes have been worked out for traditionally "grey zones," such as conduct for retired officials.
During the first three years of retirement or departure from a governmental position, an official above county level will not be able to take a job at organizations or enterprises he formally administered or to engage in any business activities he formally governed.
"These new codes are essential in reminding officials to keep up their vigilance against any behaviours harmful to their integrity," said Wang Huayuan, general director of the commission, at the ongoing provincial meeting on discipline inspection.
He stressed that fighting corruption in the field of finance will top this year's agenda and more effort will be made to check the pharmaceutical industry.
Last year, Guangdong successfully cracked a group of corruption cases, punishing violators.
The discipline inspection commission's statistics show that a total of 4,728 cases were investigated and 5,086 public servants were punished, including 334 officials above county level.
More than 1.6 billion yuan (US$193 million) was recovered by the investigations and over 2.5 billion yuan (US$313 million) worth of assets were seized.
Newly established purchasing centres in local government made a breakthrough last year by introducing a public bidding process for 886 million yuan worth (US$107 million) of commodities and services.
The moves have not only saved 191 million yuan (US$23 million), but also wiped out "under-the-table" deals, according to Wang.
In a campaign that asks officials to "put down their golf clubs," the commission received 135 golf membership cards and VIP cards handed in by officials. Five senior officials were reported to have resigned their positions at golf clubs.
(China Daily 01/11/2001)
