The proposed department had been approved by the authorities, an official with the procuratorate said, noting it would ease difficulties encountered in such aspects as obtaining evidence, witnesses, and detaining suspects in corruption cases against foreigners.

Extra people will be assigned to work with the new department which will be directly administered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the procuratorate, according to the official.

Once the new office is set, Shenzhen would handle corruption cases of this type more efficiently, said the official.

Shenzhen, one of the country's five special economic zones, is the closest mainland city to Hong Kong. It is one of China's major export-oriented processing bases and also one of its key export players.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2002)