China slaps new restrictions to regulate "naked officials"

Beijing, July 26 (ANI): China has released new restrictions, the second of its kind this month, governing "naked officials", or those whose family members have all gone abroad in its latest drive to fight corruption.

According to China Daily, the general offices of the State Council and the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Committee have issued the new regulation for those officials whose children and spouses have migrated overseas.

"It is the first formal regulation issued by the central government to manage "naked officials, it shows the central government is positive in replying to the demands of society," Zhu Lijia, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance said.

"Effective management can strengthen the prevention of corruption," he added.

According to the new rules, these officials must disclose their rank, the whereabouts of their spouses and children if they have moved overseas.

These rules also dictate the procedures these officials must follow when applying for personal passports, as well as requiring them to disclose any travel plans to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan prior to their departure.

However, skilled Chinese professionals who leave the country and later return to work in China with approval from the authorities are exempted from these rules.

Major scandals have erupted in the recent past involving corrupt officials and their family members fleeing abroad, often to western countries with unearned wealth to avoid prosecution under Chinese law.

Many of these officials sent their spouses and children abroad, before transferring their money from China. (ANI)