The governments of four Shanghai districts will auction off hundreds of gifts, ranging from running shoes to a Rolex watch, given to various officials in an effort to promote clean government.
"The purpose of the auction is to show our transparency and to educate people not to try to bribe officials," Chen Ling, director of Jing'an District's office for promoting Party discipline, said yesterday.
"Our district is planning to hold the auction on a regular basis in order to push ahead the building of a clean government," he said.
The action involves officials from Jing'an, Huangpu, Xuhui and Qingpu districts. All money raised will go back to the various district coffers.
The 248 gifts on auction have an estimated value of about 100,000 yuan (US$12,048), according to Zhang Yong, an auctioneer with Shanghai Trusty Auction Co Ltd, which will run the sale.
"Many residents have shown interests in the auction," Zhang said.
He said he will set an opening bid for the most expensive piece on auction, a Rolex watch, of 14,000 yuan.
Other expensive goods include an Olympus camera, traditional Chinese wood carvings, a bottle of expensive liquor, shirts, silk, a portable computer, jade bracelets, a gold necklace, a box of ginseng, stamps and various souvenir coins.
The sale will also include some less luxurious items such as lighters, running shoes, electric fans and pen holders.
The auction will be held on Sunday afternoon at No.1287 Kangding Road, close to Wuning Road S.
All government officials must report any gifts worth more than 50 yuan that they receive as part of their work, according to Chen. They can keep gifts valued at less than 200 yuan, but must register them with the local Party discipline department.
Gifts worth more than 200 yuan must be handed over to the discipline department.
Officials found breaking those rules face various administrative punishments or bribery charges, depending on the value of gifts.
"Holding an auction to deal with gifts shows progress in building a clean government," said Xie Kang, a professor at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.