TAIPEI: Civil servants are now allowed to appear on stage at the campaign rallies of their spouses or immediate relatives but should not make any public stump speeches, according to a bylaw approved yesterday by the Examination Yuan, the government branch that oversees the public service.

The regulation is subordinate to a statute on the administrative neutrality of civil servants, which forbids them from appearing on stage at campaign rallies, taking part in marches and soliciting voter support for election candidates.

According to civil service chief Chang Che-shen, the bylaw allows civil servants some flexibility, without violating the main law.

Civil servants who have a spouse or immediate relative running for public office are permitted to show up as "family members" on stage at the candidate's rallies, but are not allowed to make any public campaign speeches, Chang said.

The regulation also allows civil servants to participate in marches, but forbids them from initiating or organizing such marches, he said.

In addition, civil servants are not permitted, under the statute, to solicit voter support for election candidates by means such as text messaging or e-mail, according to Chang.

Addressing the controversy over the inclusion of public school staff in the regulations, Examination Yuan President Kuan Chung said his branch will try to persuade lawmakers to amend that aspect of the law.

The original version of the law proposed by the Examination Yuan did not cover this group of public employees, but they were added to the list by legislators during the screening of the bill, Kuan explained.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 11/13/2009 page2)