A graduate student from Shanghai made headlines recently when he submitted applications for the heads of 53 ministry-level government agencies to disclose their 2011 income.

So far, Lei Chuang, 25, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University has mailed his applications for information to 53 government departments, such as the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Health, and People's Bank of China, asking for each to release their leader's 2011 income and salary structure.

"The country has pushed to establish a government official assets declaration system, but the system has not really started yet. So, I think, disclosing officials' income can serve as the beginning," Lei told China Daily on Wednesday.