China Construction Bank (CCB) has approved the resignation of its two provincial branch heads, who were believed responsible for some irregularities of their subordinates.

The two officials, Liang Fucheng of Shanxi provincial branch and Sun Jiancheng of Hunan provincial branch, proposed their resignation after some illegal cases had been found in areas under their jurisdiction, sources with the bank said Friday.

New branch heads have been assigned to fill the vacancies, the bank said.

This is the first resignation of leading officials the bank has received since it promulgated a new regulation requiring staff members in leading posts who grossly neglect their duty, including board chairman and president, to take the blame and resign.

The rule was made at a time when the leading state-owned bank is beefing up efforts to seek stock market listing and its former chairman Zhang Enzhao stepped down amid media reports of corruption.

"The leader should resign if his or her breach of duty results in economic crime or irregularities committed by his or her subordinates," the rule says. Those in charge of bank branches or business outlets should also be severely punished if such cases were uncovered by their superiors or state supervision departments.

However, the decision does not mean that those two people have been fired, and they may be granted other posts or even important posts after necessary training and tests, said the sources.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2005)