China's civil servants will be examined on their morality in addition to their work performance, a senior official with China's personnel authority said on Monday.

Moral performance will become a key criterion in the merit system to judge an officer's promotion, financial and administrative rewards, or punishment, said Yin Weimin, vice minister of personnel.

Civil servants, who are at the forefront of state affairs, should take the lead in improving their moral standards, which is in line with China's "socialist concept of honor and disgrace" -- a concept that extols patriotism, plain living and honesty among others.

The move will also help consolidate the Communist Party of China's administrative capacity, Yin added.

Civil servants will also be encouraged to work temporarily in grassroots departments to improve their work ability, he said.

Yin praised the trial campaign in Shanghai that mobilizes newly recruited civil servants to work at least one year in various grassroots units, including neighborhood committees and village councils.

China is planning to despatch government officers to work in some underdeveloped regions and areas to improve their competence.

China launched the Law on Civil Servants on Jan. 1 this year, which provides an important basis for managing the civil servant force in a scientific, democratic and legal way.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2006)