Put your hand on your heart and be sworn in. China's civil servants, judges and prosecutors are urged to follow the Western practice before assuming office.

 

"Such a practice could help improve officials' sense of responsibility and honor," said Hu Xusheng, in a proposal put forward at the annual session of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

 

"It may also be a way to enhance the concept of clean governance," said Hu, a member of the CPPCC National Committee.

 

Hu said the country should write such practices into the law and make it compulsory for all would-be officials, judges and prosecutors.

 

Currently, China's national laws and regulations only require officials to undergo pre-job training. But a few local governments have started to require officials to take inaugural oath.

 

Newly appointed officials and recruited civil servants in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, has been required to be sworn in since 2003.

 

The city government says such a practice will help "improve officials sense of honor, duty and responsibility."

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2007)