China to quiz civil servants on their morality

BEIJING (Reuters) – China, trying to rein in official
corruption which has blossomed alongside 30 years of economic
reforms, is to examine civil servants on their morality as well
as work performance, Xinhua news agency said.

Morality would become a “key criterion” when making
decisions on promotions, pay rises and rewards, and even
punishment, Xinhua said late on Monday, quoting a senior
official with China’s personnel authority.

“Civil servants, who are at the forefront of civil affairs,
should take the lead in improving their moral standards, which
is in line with China’s ‘socialist concept of honor and
disgrace’ — a concept that extols patriotism, plain living and
honesty among others,” said Xinhua, quoting the vice minister
of personnel, Yin Weimin.

Corruption had been virtually wiped out in the years after
the Communist Party swept to power in 1949, but along with
prostitution, pornography and other perceived Western vices has
staged a comeback in the wake of reforms over the last three
decades.

Nearly 115,000 members of China’s Community Party — almost
two percent — were punished last year for corruption and other
offences, Xinhua said earlier.