China's audit authority has instituted a new code of conduct to maintain
integrity and discipline after confirming the "irregular practices" of a local
auditor who died after being entertained by government officials.
Zhang Hongtao, 25, who reportedly died from "excessive drinking and eating",
attended a series of banquets hosted by the electricity bureau being audited by
his team in the northern province of Hebei, said a notice issued by the National
Audit Office.
The team, which was assigned to audit a power grid construction and
transformation project of the Yanshan County Electricity Bureau between March
and April, also participated in trips organized by the bureau, the notice said.
Officials from the the office said other employees violating rules in the
affair would be penalized and the investigation results would be published.
"The incident has negatively affected the image of audit offices and
auditors," said the notice, adding it should "sound an alarm" to audit offices
and auditors nationwide.
"Auditors who violate regulations must be severely punished," the notice
said.
The audit authority introduced a code of conduct, prohibiting auditors from
accepting invitations to drink, dine, travel, and gifts from government
departments under investigation.
China's audit offices, headed by Li Jinhua, have exposed a number of major
corruption cases in recent years. In 2004, a state TV programme listed Li as one
of the ten most influential people in the country's economic circles, reflecting
the auditors' determination to confront corruption.
But the image was tarnished by Zhang's behavior, with many Internet users
lashing out at corruption inside the audit office itself.
A newspaper commentary said the public had high expectations of the audit
offices. If managers failed to deal with the affair properly, it will impair
public trust.
According to the Beijing News, Zhang's colleagues carried on the planned trip
with officials of the electronic bureau to the southern tourist city of
Yangzhou, shortly after his death.
"It is sad for Zhang. I deeply pity him," said an anonymous Internet user on
the Sina website. "Zhang sacrificed himself for China's crooked government
working style in which drinking and dining are inevitable in everyday
life."
