Officials falsifying files unforgivable

To falsify or tamper with the information on the personal files of officials is undoubtedly a form of corruption. But it is beyond the imagination of many that such an illegal and unethical practice could be so rampant that, according to a Xinhua report, a campaign is to be launched this year for organizational departments at all levels to check the personal files of all officials.

In one known instance, all the personal information of an official in North China's Hebei province was found to be false except her gender. It is common for some officials to have their ages altered so they are several years younger in their personal files, in order to get a chance for promotion or to postpone their retirement until several years later.

Some have even gone so far as to have a lot of credits added to the personal information in their files or to wipe clean their personal slate by having records of dishonor or guilt deleted so that they can get promoted. In another case, an official had his official position elevated to a level higher in his personal files before he was transferred to another province.