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SCMP Reporter

FUJIAN is to become the first province to launch a grassroots campaign to improve spiritual civilisation, or moral values.

  The province will draw up and implement a 'civilised citizen pledge', Fujian's Party Secretary Jia Qinglin announced.

  The pledge will set out for its citizens the standards they should reach in showing their love for their country and province, abiding by the law, improving services and enhancing social politeness, Mr Jia said.

  Fujian provincial authorities have conducted surveys in nine regions on reconstructing spiritual civilisation.

 Local officials said 10 key tasks needed to be completed in the province.

  'Major efforts will be taken to combat group gambling, superstitious activities, luxurious weddings and extravagant funerals,' Xinhua (the New China News Agency) quoted a senior provincial official as saying.

  Tombs along major highways would be demolished or moved and the erection of new tombs along these highways would be banned, the official said.

  'In addition, those who discard garbage carelessly, post advertising on walls without approval, park their cars illegally, squeeze into public transport impolitely or operate as street vendors without licences will be punished.'   Officials will also investigate medical practitioners to ensure patients are not being overcharged.

  'Those units that ask for extra charges for services will be severely punished,' the official said.

  According to the plan, all cities and prefectures should pick one of their best streets to transform it into their 'model' street - which should be the cleanest and sell the highest quality products at reasonable prices.

  And public toilets will be built along provincial highways for the benefit of travellers.

  'Libraries and culture centres will be erected in various villages to cultivate peasants,' the official said.

  Although President Jiang Zemin has called on all sectors of society to help him spread 'spiritual civilisation', previous campaigns have mostly focused on boosting the moral standards of cadres and the Army.

  This month, China's five special economic zones also pledged to halt the decline of moral and social order.

  Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen, Shantou and Hainan have long been criticised by Beijing for neglecting to combat crime and corruption in their single-minded pursuit of economic prosperity.

  'Spiritual civilisation' will top the agenda at the Sixth Plenum of the party's Central Committee next month.

  The ideals of collectivism, patriotism and socialism will be encouraged.



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