'Naked officials' transferred

Family overseas asked to return to China

More than 280 "naked officials" in Guangdong Province have brought their family members who lived overseas back to China, and nearly 40 percent of the 2,190 naked officials have been reassigned, announced Guangdong authorities on Wednesday.

"Naked officials" refer to civil servants whose immediate relatives have emigrated overseas.

"After three months' efforts, Guangdong had reassigned 866 naked officials, including nine department-level and 134 county-level officials," Li Yumei, head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangdong Provincial Committee, said in an online interview in the official website of the Central Commission for Disciplinary Inspection of the CPC Central Committee.

Guangdong authorities talked the naked officials out based on a new regulation on official promotion and selection issued in January, which stipulates that naked officials will not be considered for promotion. Naked officials were then offered choices under the limitations.

"We had to hold five or six rounds of talks with some naked officials who hold important posts, making them understand that they have to either bring their family members back or accept a reassignment," said Li.

Huang Xianyao, secretary of Guangdong Discipline Inspection Commission, saw this move as a demonstration of the Party's strict requirements for its members and a vital part of the anti-graft drive.

"Naked officials are not necessarily corrupt, but they are more likely to be connected to corruption," said Huang.

Li said Guangdong will also issue regulations on the management of returned naked officials' family members.

For example, for those with foreign nationalities or permanent residency overseas that cannot be revoked, a new policy will be introduced to manage their exit and entry needs. Family planning is also an important issue as many naked officials transfer family members overseas to have another child, said Li.

Ren Jianming, a professor at the School of Public Policy and Management at Beihang University, supported the Guangdong government's move as it sets a good example to other provinces and demonstrates its transparent political environment.

"More severe punishment should be imposed on the corrupt," said Ren.

Guangdong has also vowed to continue checking naked officials' assets in the future.

Twenty-two corrupt naked officials in Guangdong have been arrested since 2009, including Luo Yin'guo, former Party chief of Maoming and Cao Jianliao, former deputy mayor of Guangzhou.