(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-13 16:27

ZHENGZHOU - A local government has bowed to media and Internet pressure and stripped an official who died after drinking too much of a posthumous merit award which it had previously given him.

Liu Yaolin, a publicity official in Xinxian County, in central China's Henan Province, acknowledged on Thursday that the 46-year-old Guo Shizhong, former director of the family planning commission in Xinxian, died of a brain haemorrhage after drinking and having fun at a karaoke bar on the evening of February 26.

The Chinese Communist Party (CPC) committee of Xinxian had honored Guo posthumously with a "level three order of merit for an individual" on February 28, which is usually conferred on officials who die of honor on post.

Liu said that the government decided to remove the award, after an initial investigation proved earlier media reports on the manner of Guo Shizhong's death were correct.

Xinxian County is administrated by Xinyang City, which is famous for its ban on boozy work lunches, in a bid to stamp out corruption. Officials are prohibited from drinking alcohol at lunch on work days.

The ban, introduced in January last year, has led to more than 444 local CPC cadres being reprimanded for ignoring it, according to sources with the Xinyang Municipal Government.

A man surnamed Wang from the office of the secretary of the CPC Xinyang Municipal Committee said that the Party secretary had known of the matter. Guo did not violate the liquor ban. His night social dinner did not fall into the rule's domination, said Wang.

Guo's after-death awards have been strongly blasted by netizens. "It is ridiculous to honor a Party official, who made himself a negative example by drinking himself to death at a night bar. Such an award would just damage the Party's image," a message left on jingchu.com reads.

Liu told Xinhua that Guo, honored as "Outstanding Communist" and "Outstanding National Family Planning Worker" in Xinyang in 2004 was a diligent family planning worker, known for his overtime work hours. He had persistent illnesses such as high blood pressure and hyperlipaemia, which might have been the cause of his sudden death.

He said the Xinxian CPC County Committee had meant to honor Guo for his work performance, but neglected the side social effect of awarding an official who loved drinking.

Liu admitted that Guo died after a social night out, but made no further comment.