Disgraced Officials Return in New Roles

Recently, a string of cases involving the reappointment of officials dismissed for misconduct has sparked public controversy. The well-known cases include that of Shao Liyong, former director of the Binzhou Industrial and Commercial Administration in Shandong Province, who was dismissed for spending public funds on vacation during the national day of mourning for the Sichuan earthquake. Less than one year later, he was reappointed as director of the Weihai Administration for Industry and Commerce in the same province. Local authorities insist the reappointment "does not violate any regulation."
 
Gao Quanxi, a law professor and doctoral advisor from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics said that the reappointment disregards regulations of public and administrative management, and challenges government credibility and public tolerance.