From the Readers

Kudos for graft fight

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-05 07:51

Kudos for graft fight

Comment on "Govt wants a better view of 'naked officials'" (Feb 24, 2010, China Daily).

The Chinese government recently set up a special monitoring system to stop officials from using their overseas-based family members as proxies to get bribes. The move, a reflection of the government's determination to root out corruption, will prevent corrupt officials from transferring China's wealth abroad illegally.

As an overseas politician living in China for the past few years, I can say the current Chinese leadership deserves respect and admiration for taking such a bold move.

Chinese leaders and government officials do not earn as much as some professionals or businessmen, not to mention their political counterparts in some other countries.

It is this spirit of altruism and not the efforts to fulfill one's interest that makes the difference between true political leaders and opportunists.

In contrast, governments in many other countries pay their leaders and officials much higher salaries on the pretext of preventing corruption.

So much for their honesty, many such officials even refuse to declare their personal assets while in office. Thus by making itself subject to public scrutiny and ensuring that no one is above the law, the Chinese government has taken a move that will win the hearts of its people.

Lim Tung Hee, via e-mail

Solution to poverty

Letter to Liu Shinan on his column "High time to alter income distribution" (Feb 10, 2010, China Daily).

Dear Mr. Liu,

Your recent column about Liu Huizhen, the 11- year-old girl, taking care of her family in Dancheng county, Henan province and the situation of poverty in both our countries, and what can be done about it, is a concern of all people.

People want to make personal donations for her happiness when there is media attention on a specific situation.

But I don't think either of these efforts serve as the best way in the long term to respond to poverty and calamities.

I think people individually have the responsibility to someone else, somewhere else. This sense must be constant and ingrained by culture, by technology and advanced communication.

This I think relates to both situations domestically, and internationally.

Henry E. Nass, New York City

Readers' comments are welcome. Please send your e-mail to opinion@chinadaily.com.cn or letters@chinadaily.com.cn or to the individual columnists. China Daily reserves the right to edit all letters. Thank you.

(China Daily 03/05/2010 page10)