Beijing tightens grip on outbound officials

Beijing government officials intending to go abroad for personal reasons face greater restrictions amid the nation's crackdown on corrupt officials trying to flee overseas, Beijing Youth Daily reported.

According to a circular issued in May by the capital city's authority supervising civil servants, those taking a leading role in a division or above are not allowed to go abroad for personal reasons, and those applying for overseas travel for special reasons will be subjected to a close check. In some cases, government officials will have to hand over their passports for collective management.

The circular, rolled out in line with a notification issued by the nation's top authority in charge of government officials, also stipulates that major officials in charge of people, property, money and confidential files, and those whose spouse and offspring have emigrated - the so called naked officials -?will be put under strict control when it comes to outbound trips. Retired officials at bureau level also need to get approval from the Party committee before going abroad.

Since 2008, the police have caught 730 suspects of economic crimes from 54 countries and regions, and in 2013 alone, 762 fugitive suspects of duty crimes were arrested with 10.14 billion yuan ($1.65 billion) retrieved, a report by the Supreme People's Procuratorate revealed.

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