The social activities of provincial department chiefs will face public scrutiny, says the Guangdong government.

That means officials' personal relationships and contacts will be open to the public.

The move was spurred by the corruption such relations and contacts have created.

At a conference Tuesday, Party Secretary Zhang Dejiang asked the public to keep an eye on his own activities.

The move also follows a government plan to include "living" and "social" circles in its supervision work this year.

"It is a good proposal, and somewhat positive for anti-corruption (efforts)." said Xiao Bin, the chief of School of Government under Zhongshan University.

However, the move is expected to have little effect in anti-corruption investigations.

According to Xiao, a person's privacy in his relationships with family, friends, relatives and any personal areas is protected by law.

Privacy is a legal right and it can't be infringed upon.

Supervision of officials' "living circles" and "social circles" will force a conflict between human rights and the law, he said.

That means morality, not regulations, can be the only supervisor of people's private lives, Xiao said.

He added that the right way to supervise officials' private lives is to make their property known to the public.

Most developed countries have policies aimed at doing just that.

"I believe it will help me restrain my greed," said an official who refuse to give his name.

The government outline punishments harsh enough to make greed dangerous.

(China Daily February 5, 2004)