South China's Guangdong Province has announced a key measure to fight corruption.

In a special notice yesterday, the provincial government said Party and government officials at all levels must resist taking hongbao (gift money in red envelopes) during the coming National Day (October 1) holiday and the traditional Mid-autumn Festival (on October 6).

The statement said those who accept hongbao will be removed from their posts while those who seriously violate the notice face prosecution.

It is the first time the southern Chinese province has officially issued such a notice to fight corruption.

It is of great significance in preventing corruption and ensuring an honest government operation in the province, according to Wang Huayuan, deputy Party secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee.

He urged Party and government officials at all levels to accept supervision by the public and the media. Tip-offs from the public will be welcomed and supervision of officials will be strengthened.

Wang, speaking at a conference in Guangzhou on Tuesday, is also secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China.

The notice said government departments or officials are not allowed to distribute extra bonuses during the period. No one is allowed to accept cash, shares or other expensive gifts during the holiday period, the notice said.

Many Guangzhou residents welcomed the notice.

Wang Zhaoming, a local white-collar worker, believed it would really help prevent corruption cases.

"The notice was also issued at the right time, as National Day and the Mid-autumn Festival are usually a peak period for bribing officials in the province," Wang said.

"Governments at all levels in Guangdong need to introduce effective and concrete measures to ensure honest government operations and further improve their reputations," Wang added.

The notice was issued after Guangdong investigated 1,150 commercial bribe cases in the first eight months of this year. Of those, 55 involved at least 1 million yuan (US$125,000).

Disciplinary action was taken against 376 officials. Of them, 36 were officials at county level or above. Jail sentences were handed out to 186 of the officials, including 14 at county level and above.

The anti-corruption notice was jointly issued by the Guangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China and the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Supervision on Tuesday.

Zhengzhou, the capital of Central China's Henan Province, also issued a notice this week to try to prevent corruption.

The statement from the municipal government said all government and company cars, except those "on duty," cannot be used during the October 1-7 holiday period.

(China Daily September 28, 2006)