Put your hand on your heart and be sworn in. China's civil
servants, judges and prosecutors are urged to follow the Western
practice before assuming office.
"Such a practice could help improve officials' sense of
responsibility and honor," said Hu Xusheng, in a proposal put
forward at the annual session of the Tenth National Committee of
the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
"It may also be a way to enhance the concept of clean
governance," said Hu, a member of the CPPCC National Committee.
Hu said the country should write such practices into the law and
make it compulsory for all would-be officials, judges and
prosecutors.
Currently, China's national laws and regulations only require
officials to undergo pre-job training. But a few local governments
have started to require officials to take inaugural oath.
Newly appointed officials and recruited civil servants in
Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, has been
required to be sworn in since 2003.
The city government says such a practice will help "improve
officials sense of honor, duty and responsibility."
(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2007)