China to quiz civil servants on their morality

BEIJING, May 30 (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 yesterday, 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 honour 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 per cent -- were punished last year for corruption and other offences, Xinhua said earlier.

REUTERS SI BST1020