SHENZHEN will begin a citywide campaign against bribery of officials in a bid to create a clean government and a healthy business environment.

Li Feng, executive vice mayor and chief of the city’s leadership group on tackling official bribery, said at a meeting Wednesday that the city would intensify investigation of bribery cases that involve officials and businesses in land use and property development.

He said the campaign will identify institutions, people and funds involved in practices that go against fair competition and will put forward plans to root out such practices while maintaining its focus on corrupt government officials who receive kickbacks from businesses.

Shenzhen has found 184 instances of bribery in commercial sectors since last year, involving 60.18 million yuan (US$8.85 million). A total of 191 suspects were arrested, including 26 senior government officials, Li said.

Zhao Zhenhua, vice head of the anti-graft watchdog in Guangdong Province, urged Shenzhen to be more iron-handed in cracking down on bribery in business sectors in the future.

“Shenzhen will implement an increasing number of infrastructure projects this year to boost economic growth, including Universiade venues and five Metro lines,” Zhao said. “The government faces a tougher task in battling corruption.”

He said government officials who are tempted to abuse power and seek personal gain are at the root of the problem.

“Without someone to take bribes, there would be no bribers,” he said.

He urged the government to take measures to prevent corruption suspects from escaping to foreign countries.

“It is too easy (for the suspects) to escape from Shenzhen to Hong Kong and via Hong Kong to foreign countries,” he said.

It is common for those bidding for business in China to offer potential customers or partners kickbacks ranging from cash and luxury goods to paid holiday travel. Many companies believe that the practice is in fact a “tacit rule,” according to the meeting.

(Mu Zi)