English Story

Amphibious officials 两栖干部

The Beijing local government is taking measures to clean up the so-called amphibious officials, retired or serving officials who hold posts in social organizations and make money by taking advantage of their current or previous official status and connections with government departments.
北京当地政府正在采取措施清理“两栖干部”,即在社团兼职、利用自己当前或者之前的职位以及跟政府部门的关系谋取利益的离退休或者在职官员。
 
Amphibious一词指“水陆两栖的”,多用来形容在陆地和水里都能存活的动物,这里的amphibious officials借用这里的“两栖”概念,指既在政府部门任职,又在社会企业或团体中兼任职务的官员。退休官员兼任社会职务可以为其提供政府资源(governmental resources),而在任官员兼任社会团体职务很容易就会滋生权力寻租(rent-seeking)和腐败问题。
 
北京市新近出台的文件规定,离退休干部在社团兼职情况须本人每年书面报告(retired governmental officials have to submit written annual reports about any positions they hold in social organizations),同时兼职不得领取任何津贴报酬(they are forbidden to take any payment or allowance from the organizations)。针对在职干部(serving government officials),北京明确除特殊情况须审批之外,副处级及以上领导干部应主动辞去兼任的社团领导职务(resign their posts in social organizations unless they have approval from their superiors)。