Chinese citizens to have credit records

BEIJING -- China is to establish a credit code system based on ID numbers and credit records, linked to criminal records.

A report on China National Radio on Monday quoted Huang Ming, vice minister of public security, as saying the government will perfect a national database of basic information on each citizen for more efficient information sharing and crime prevention.

The adoption of the credit record system is expected to urge the citizens to be more trustworthy and to enhance the safety of some sectors such as courier service and online shopping with the use of a real-name registration system.

The overhaul of the public security system also abolishes the controversial temporary residence permit and moves forward changes to the household registration system.

The plans include a requirement to film and record all interrogations. Police officers will be subject to life-long accountability for criminal errors in handling cases.