Shenzhen's first commission against government corruption has been founded in Shenzhen, a press conference at the Citizens' Center said yesterday.

With Vice Mayor Liu Yingli as the director, the commission includes more than 22 directors from local bureaus and departments in different sectors like finance, law, construction, transportation and health.

The main task of the commission is inspecting government-funded construction projects, land trading, financial investment, medicine and other public procurement projects.

Municipal bureaus and departments are required to first self-inspect and conduct anti-corruption campaigns between May and November, and submit reports to the commission on their findings and corrective measures Dec. 12.

The commission will carry out an overall inspection at the end of this year. Individual corruption cases will be transferred to the justice department for investigation.

The meeting also assigned to the finance bureau the task of inspecting possible corruption in government purchases in all the other municipal bureaus and public sectors including schools and hospitals.

 "The government expects local officials to perform their duties with honesty and in the best interests of the public. Corrupt conducts are a breach of public trust and lead to inequality and wasted resources. Wasted public money are the main targets of the commission," said Qiao Jiahua, director of the municipal finance bureau, at yesterday's meeting.

(Shenzhen Daily June 29, 2006)