Retirement of 'naked official' reflects tightened corruption control

A "naked official" is to be replaced in south China's Guangdong province, as the country's anti-graft campaign begins to target this specific group of Party officials.

According to a statement on Monday from the Organization Department of the provincial committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Fang Xuan, deputy chief of Guangzhou city's Party Committee, will be replaced by Li Yiwei, party chief of Foshan city in Guangdong.

Fang, born in 1954, was due to reach the official retirement age of 60 in October. The statement said he was taking early retirement.

Fang was also Zhuhai city's party chief as well as head of the organization department of Guangzhou CPC committee.

It has been reported the reason for this is because authorities found him to be a "naked official". The term refers to officials whose spouse and children have emigrated overseas.

According to selection and appointment regulations issued in January, these officials will not be considered for promotion.

Anonymous sources with the province's organization department told Xinhua Fang's early retirement was part of a large-scale campaign to stamp out "naked officials".

Guangdong Province has launched a slew of investigations into such officials.

Guangdong's move came after a central disciplinary inspection team statement in February, which said the number of "naked officials" in the province was a serious problem.

Xin Ming, professor with Party School of the Central Committee of CPC, said that Fang's early retirement shows the local government's determination to solve the problem.

"The number of 'naked officials' has to decrease rather than merely have their chances of promotion cut off," said Xin.