LAXITY by officials in implementing central economic orders will be severely punished, Executive Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji has warned.
He said the national financial work conference which ended on July 7 would be the cut-off date and cadres who had made mistakes over their economic work before that date would not be punished - so long as they had not violated government rules or discipline.
However, those who failed to abide by the 16-point austerity programme adopted at the end of the conference would no longer be excused.
''[We have to] severely punish anyone who did not stop any activities that should be prohibited. [We have to] seriously deal with anyone who dares to challenge the laws,'' he said.
The assurance and warnings by Mr Zhu were given during an inspection tour of the impoverished Guizhou province last week. They were reported by Xinhua (the New China News Agency) yesterday.
Mr Zhu, who has recently been appointed to head the People's Bank of China, called on provincial cadres to implement fully the major policies adopted by the central Government to improve the economy.