Officials denying property disclosure to face punishment

Nansha district in Guangzhou ciyt, capital of Guangdong province, has introduced regulations to punish officials who refuse to disclose their assets or lie in their reports, and a property declaration system is being implemented.

Those who lie in their asset reports or refuse to disclose their properties will be relieved from their posts, Mei Heqing, a senior official from the Guangzhou Municipal Party Commission for Discipline Inspection, said on Wednesday.

"And then they will be transferred to judicial department for possible prosecution when they are investigated to have violated State laws, or have economic problems," Mei told a news conference in Guangzhou on Wednesday afternoon.

"Starting this week, all of the major officials in Nansha have been required to report their assets, investments, marriage status, entry and exit record and employment status of their spouses and children," he said.

"Putting information about government operations and government and Party officials in the public domain to make it more transparent will be an effective way to prevent and limit corruption."

According to Mei, the officials' assets will be made public and public opinions will be sought.

Nansha district, located at the mouth of the Pearl River, together with Hengqin island in Zhuhai special economic zone and Shixing county in northern part of Guangdong province have been selected as the three pilot areas to introduce a property declaration system aiming to prevent and fight corruption in the prosperous province that borders Hong Kong and Macao.